The announcement was made by Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans and State Secretary Gijs Tuinman during a recent visit to Ukraine. They visited the city of Dnipro the morning after a deadly drone attack that left four people dead and around twenty injured.
Brekelmans and Tuinman also met with the Ukrainian Army’s ground forces commander at the eastern front to assess the current battlefield needs. Ukrainian officials highlighted an urgent demand for drones, air defence systems, and artillery—priorities that align with Dutch support plans.
Minister Brekelmans emphasised the urgency of the situation, stating: “It was important to announce that we are delivering EUR 2 billion in accelerated support to Ukraine, including a EUR 500 million drone project. These drones make a difference on the battlefield and literally save lives.”
He added that Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov had made a high-priority request for drones during a recent visit to the Netherlands. “It is of great importance that we can now commit this support. It strengthens Ukraine’s position at the front line and at the negotiating table,” said Brekelmans.
During their meeting with Minister Umerov, the Dutch officials discussed the broader package of support, including rapid delivery of air defence, ammunition, and maritime equipment. They also signed an agreement to deepen cooperation between the defence industries of both countries.
Tuinman stressed the mutual benefit of closer industrial ties: “A close partnership between our industries is good for both countries. We can learn a lot from Ukraine’s combat experience and apply our capabilities in return.”
“This leads to more innovation and large-scale production,” he added. “What is good for Ukraine is good for the Netherlands and vice versa.”
