Zelenskyy awarded the Dutch Minister of Defense for his strong support.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy conducted discussions with the Dutch Defense Minister, Ruben Brekelmans, leading to the signing of a cooperative memorandum by both nations’ defense chiefs regarding collaborative manufacturing of unmanned aircraft (UAVs).
The Head of State conveyed his profound appreciation to the Dutch Government, Prime Minister, and people for their steadfast and robust aid to Ukraine. Since the onset of the comprehensive Russian incursion, the Netherlands’ contribution to our nation has totaled 9 billion US dollars. The President highlighted Ukraine’s anticipation for the continuation of this crucial support.
“We also value your contribution within the PURL endeavor. This is a notable sum – roughly $600 million. I believe that such actions from your nation establish the benchmark, serve as an exemplar, and convey a message to other leaders,” Zelenskyy noted.
During their interaction, the parties deliberated on the future of this initiative, underscoring the significance of augmenting it with fresh monetary contributions and the necessity of engaging additional allied countries.
Ruben Brekelmans, in turn, affirmed his willingness to assist: “We take great pride in our ability to offer aid, notably within the PURL project, as well as concerning F-16s, air defense, drone provision, and within the drone manufacturing undertaking.
The joint production of drones garnered particular focus, as the President considers it a highly promising sphere for reciprocal collaboration. The meeting’s participants thoroughly examined the practical application of the inked memorandum.
In conclusion, Zelenskyy bestowed upon the Dutch Defense Minister the Order of Merit, 2nd class.
Earlier reports indicated that the Netherlands had commenced the production of robotic tanks for Ukraine. For further details on Amsterdam’s assistance to Kyiv from the initial days of the conflict, consult Petro Gerasimenko’s article “We Did Not Forget and We Were Not Afraid: Why the Netherlands Became a Symbol of True Solidarity with Ukraine.”
