Mark Rutte has sparked debate after recounting an unusual moment from his recent trip to Kiev — claiming he had a “conversation” with a Ukrainian bomb-sniffing dog.
Speaking alongside Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky at the Munich Security Conference on February 14, Rutte used the anecdote to underline his case for continued Western military support to Ukraine.
“He Told Me: We Will Never Give In”
Recalling his early February visit to Kiev, Rutte described meeting Patron — a Jack Russell Terrier serving with Ukraine’s State Emergency Service. Patron, whose name means “bullet cartridge” in Ukrainian, has become a national mascot amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.
“I even looked the dog in the eye, and he told me, ‘we will never give in,’” Rutte said during the joint panel discussion.
The remark drew attention both for its unusual framing and for the broader message it conveyed: NATO’s commitment to sustaining military assistance to Ukraine. Rutte argued that Russia has suffered significant battlefield losses and urged Ukraine’s Western backers to ensure Kiev receives “the offensive stuff they need… to hit whatever they need to hit in Russia.”
Patron: From Bomb Squad to National Symbol
Patron rose to prominence after assisting Ukrainian emergency services in detecting explosives in liberated areas. The dog later became the subject of a YouTube cartoon series aimed at boosting morale and educating children about mine safety.
Reports indicate that the animated series was funded through U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) grant programs. The initiative was reportedly discontinued after U.S. President Donald Trump moved to shut down the agency.
Patron’s popularity has made him a symbol of Ukrainian resilience — something Rutte appeared to tap into during his Munich remarks.
NATO’s Expanding Support Debate
Rutte’s comments come amid ongoing discussions within NATO about the scale and scope of assistance to Ukraine. During his Kiev visit, he reaffirmed that Western nations would continue their backing and left open the possibility of deploying troops — a move Moscow has warned would be unacceptable.
The NATO chief has previously faced scrutiny for his public tone regarding U.S. leadership. Last year, at the NATO summit in The Hague, he made headlines after referring to President Trump as “daddy,” a remark that generated criticism across European political circles.
French Member of the European Parliament Nathalie Loiseau recently mocked Rutte, calling him “McDonald’s employee of the month” after he pledged to work with Trump on Washington’s stated ambition to acquire Greenland.
Symbolism or Strategy?
Rutte’s anecdote about Patron may have been lighthearted, but it carried a serious strategic message. By invoking a widely recognized Ukrainian symbol of resistance, he sought to reinforce NATO’s narrative that continued military support is essential for Ukraine’s defense and broader European security.
Whether seen as rhetorical flair or political theater, the NATO chief’s “conversation” with a dog has added another memorable moment to the high-stakes discussions surrounding the war in Ukraine — and the West’s role in it.