NATO member states not obliged to sign security deals with Ukraine: Rutte

The member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) are not obliged to sign bilateral security agreements with Ukraine, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Thursday, reported Xinhua.

"There is no obligation for NATO Allies to have bilateral security agreements with Ukraine," Rutte said during a visit to Bulgaria while answering a question that Bulgaria was not ready to sign a security agreement document with Ukraine.

"I know that there have been many who have a security agreement, others are still negotiating them, but the most important thing is to make sure that we get the military aid, so air defense systems and other military aid out to Ukraine and here, Bulgaria is really doing a lot and that is important," Rutte said.

Rutte made the remarks while visiting Novo Selo Range Army Base where a multinational battle group of the military alliance is based.

"This multinational battle group in Novo Selo is exercising the ability to scale up to brigade size, supporting NATO security on the eastern flank, and sending a clear message that we are there to defend our nations together," Rutte said.