Ukraine is not Russia's final stop on its way to imperial past - Dutch Defense Minister
Photo: Ruben Brekelmans, Minister of Defense of the Netherlands (Getty Images)
Kyiv, in its possible negotiations with Russia, should conduct a dialogue from a position of strength. Ukraine is not the end point of dictator Vladimir Putin's march, says Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans.
During his speech at the Paris Conference, Brekelmans reminded that NATO was created in 1949 to prevent future wars through a united force.
"And nowadays, when we walk towards the entrance of the Nato headquarters, we pass a large piece of the Berlin Wall on the left side, it’s a symbol of the end of the Cold War, [and] to the right side, we see a twisted and mangled piece of steel from the twin towers, a reminder of 9/11 and a reminder of the impact of terrorism," he added.
According to him, he can't help but wonder what other relics of war will stand next to these monuments, as it is impossible to predict. At the same time, he is confident that the coming days and weeks will be crucial in shaping the next five to ten years.
Negotiating from position of strength
Regarding possible negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, the head of the Dutch Ministry of Defense noted that Kyiv should not agree to a deal that would lead to an inter-bloc alliance when aggression is on the horizon.
"Putin has made very clear that Ukraine is not his final stop on his campaign to the imperial past. He will continue his aggressive, aggressive efforts to increase the influence and the territory of the Russian Empire towards his dream to reestablish a Russkiy Mir, or a Russian world. It’s a dream for Putin, and it’s a nightmare for the rest of Europe," Brekelmans said.
Dutch support for Ukraine
The Netherlands has been actively supporting Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion. They provide military, financial and humanitarian aid, as well as support sanctions against Russia. Amsterdam has provided Kyiv with modern weapons, including Leopard 2 tanks, artillery, and anti-aircraft systems. In addition, the Netherlands finances the restoration of Ukrainian infrastructure and participates in international initiatives to investigate Russia's war crimes.
Recently, Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said that the Netherlands would provide €700 million for drones for Ukraine.
