The Netherlands will announce another support package worth 90 million euros for reconnaissance and strike drones for Ukraine. This was announced by Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans during a meeting of defense ministers of NATO member states in Brussels, Interfax-Ukraine reports.
"Our support for Ukraine is more important than ever. We see powerful air attacks on energy infrastructure in Ukraine almost every day. The Ukrainians told me last weekend that the coming winter will be the hardest yet, and I think we need to ensure a continuous flow of support for Ukraine. And the Netherlands is doing more than ever. A few days ago I announced 200 million in support. Today I will announce another support package of 90 million for drones, both reconnaissance and strike, because we see that Ukraine, Ukraine's industry, still has the potential to produce more, and so we are investing another 90 million to do that," the minister said.
At the same time, Ruben Brekelmans is convinced that it is important to change "the basic dynamics, because Putin now feels that he is winning every day by continuing Russian aggression in Ukraine" and "we must ensure that the price for Putin increases."
According to the Dutch Minister of Defense, this means a stable future, as well as long-term commitments to Ukraine when it comes to military support, both bilaterally and through other means, such as frozen assets.
"We need to support Ukraine with deep strike capabilities so that the costs to Russia increase, but we also need to make sure that by strengthening sanctions, by increasing economic pressure on Russia, Putin feels that he cannot continue like this, and that we, together with Ukraine, will ultimately win," the government official added.
In addition, he noted that the Netherlands would support providing Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles.
It was recently reported that the Netherlands has delivered an Alkmaar-class mine countermeasures ship to Ukraine. Another ship of this class is expected to be delivered by the end of the year.
It was also previously announced that the Enstone company Milrem Robotics will supply more than 150 THeMIS ground robotic systems to Ukraine. The supply will be carried out within the framework of an initiative funded and coordinated by the Netherlands.