Military aid to Ukraine should have no borders - Dutch Defense Minister
Minister of Defense of the Netherlands, Kajsa Ollongren (Getty Images)
There should be no restrictions when it comes to providing military assistance to Ukraine. The security of the Netherlands also depends on it, according to the Minister of Defense of the Netherlands, Kajsa Ollongren.
"When it comes to weapons, regular weapons, training, and spare parts, in my opinion, there should be no borders," the minister said, noting the importance of continuing assistance to Ukraine.
According to her, not only Ukraine benefits from military support, but also the security of the Netherlands.
She criticized a Dutch MP who stated last week in the House of Representatives that support for Ukraine is a provocation to Russia.
"That's the sound the Kremlin wants to hear. We need to be honest. When you say, 'The West is provoking Russia,' it's exactly what Putin (dictator Vladimir Putin - ed.) also says. This is a wrong conception," Ollongren noted.
Netherlands aid to Ukraine
After the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, the Netherlands has been providing Ukraine with not only defensive but also financial assistance. At the end of November, the Dutch Foreign Minister announced plans to provide an additional €2.5 billion in aid to support Ukraine in 2024.
The Netherlands also sent tanks and other military equipment to Ukraine, and together with Denmark, they led the aviation coalition.
On December 22, 2023, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced that the government had decided to prepare the first 18 F-16 fighter jets for transfer to Ukraine.
