By Olena Harmash
KYIV (Reuters) – The newly appointed Dutch defence and overseas affairs ministers have mentioned the Netherlands’ assist for Ukraine is “rock solid”.
The Netherlands has been a key ally to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, however a far-right election victory final yr forged doubt on its dedication.
On their first go to to Kyiv, Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans and Overseas Minister Caspar Veldkamp held conferences with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and different senior Ukrainian officers.
“My message to all the officials in the Ukrainian government is that the Netherlands stands by Ukraine and will continue to support Ukraine in political, military, financial and moral ways,” Veldkamp advised Reuters.
Brekelmans mentioned lively work was underway to provide F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine and assist additional strengthen its air defences.
“I wanted to stress that our support for Ukraine is rock-solid. Our support to Ukraine is beyond any doubt,” Brekelmans advised Reuters as he stood within the heart of Kyiv close to an open-air exhibition of destroyed Russian navy gear.
The Netherlands has been one of many driving forces behind a world coalition to provide Ukraine with F-16s. The outgoing Dutch authorities has mentioned that the primary of 24 promised jets could be provided quickly.
Brekelmans declined to offer any particulars or particular dates for safety causes.
Zelenskiy mentioned on Friday he needed to double the air defence capabilities by the summer season.
The Netherlands would additionally quickly ship three launchers and one radar system, Brekelmans mentioned, including he was additionally in talks with different companions “to use all creativity to create international coalitions to deliver” Patriot programs, which have helped Kyiv defend itself in opposition to Russian assaults.
The talks would proceed on the NATO summit, in Washington, on Wednesday, he mentioned.
Veldkamp additionally pledged monetary assist to assist scale up Ukraine’s capability for forensic analysis and information assortment. The Netherlands would additionally donate a cellular forensic lab to be used in frontline areas, he mentioned.
“This will help to do justice to the many, many dead Ukrainians whose bodies are returning from the front,” he mentioned. “It will also facilitate the investigation of the missing persons cases and will assist the collective effort to bring the deported children back from Russia and reunite them with their families.”
