Netherlands starts transferring drones to Ukraine

"I can't say the exact number, but we are already transferring drones to Ukraine. The drone coalition is very important because now we will join forces, which means we will be able to increase the number of drones according to Ukraine's needs," Ollongren said.

She also noted that the Netherlands takes an active part in the air defense coalition for Ukraine.

"For example, with the Patriot systems, and also with the F-16s, which are also in the pipeline. So it makes sense to participate in this kind of coalition. And I think, like with drones, we need to be very specific about what is needed for Ukraine," the minister said.

In addition, Ollongren confirmed that the training of Ukrainian pilots on the F-16 is ongoing.

"We are also preparing the aircraft for the actual transfer. We announced that we will transfer 24 F-16 aircraft together with Denmark and Norway as soon as possible. But everything must be ready. I am sure that this year we will be able to start their transfer," the head of the Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands noted.

Drone coalition

On December 12, 2023, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov, and his colleague from Latvia, Andris Spruds, discussed the creation of a drone coalition.

As Spruds said in January, more than 20 countries have already joined the drone coalition including:

• Sweden

• Denmark

• Germany

• Lithuania

• Estonia

• Netherlands

According to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the group of Alliance countries wants to hand over one million drones to Ukrainian defenders as part of military aid.

As Umerov reported, the drone coalition officially started on February 17.