Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts are partially occupied by Russian troops. Russia claims to have annexed the whole territory of those regions despite not controlling two regional capitals — Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. Moscow also controls all of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula.

Former Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte assumed leadership of NATO on Tuesday, becoming secretary general of the world’s most powerful military alliance. By opting for the veteran Dutch statesman - a staunch ally of the United States and stalwart supporter of Ukraine - NATO’s 32 nations picked a leader who is expected to keep pushing for support for Kiev,

The new head of NATO vowed when he took office on Tuesday to help shore up Western support for Ukraine, which has been fighting Russia's full-scale invasion since February 2022 and has for most of this year been on the defensive due to a relentless Russian army push in the country's eastern regions.

Rutte told reporters it was important for him to go to Ukraine at this time "to make crystal clear to you, to the people of Ukraine and to everyone watching that NATO stands with Ukraine." Rutte said he and Zelenskyy discussed areas where Ukraine needs extra support and the ways in which NATO allies are working to meet those needs.