Netherlands Leads NATO with Landmark Military Funding for Ukraine
The Netherlands announced a new €400 million military aid package to Ukraine to strengthen maritime security, including more than a hundred ships and maritime drones, The Gaze reports, citing Ukrinform.
The new aid package was announced on August 4 by Acting Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans at a Ramstein meeting in Brussels.
According to him, the aid package will include more than 100 ships, including patrol vessels and maritime drones.
"It will include more than a hundred ships, patrol boats, transport boats, interceptors, special operations ships, that is, a wide range of more than a hundred ships. The package also includes more than 50 maritime drones. It also includes weapon systems, sensors, spare parts, training, i.e. a complete package to strengthen Ukraine's maritime security," Brekelmans said.
The acting Dutch Minister of Defense also stated that this new package of assistance to Ukraine is aimed at strengthening maritime security, as Russian threats are growing both in the Black Sea and in the Kherson and Dnipro regions.
He emphasized that changes in the political situation in the Netherlands will not affect support for Ukraine, assuring that the government's position on international security and defense will remain unchanged.
In this context, it is worth mentioning that on Monday, the Netherlands announced the provision of €500 million to Ukraine under the new NATO Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative, envisaging the purchase of military equipment from US reserves. With this contribution, the country became the first NATO ally to finance a full package of assistance under this program.
The packages include air defense systems, ammunition, and other equipment needed by Ukraine, and once funded, will be delivered through special logistics centers.
It is noted that the PURL Initiative is not a replacement for existing support, but rather a supplement to it. "A new batch of equipment should arrive every two to three weeks. Rapid delivery of equipment will strengthen Ukraine's position at the negotiating table in the future," the Dutch Ministry of Defense website says.
As The Gaze informed earlier, the Netherlands announced a major new contribution to a U.S.-led initiative to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense, pledging support with Patriot systems, F-16 munitions, counter-drones, radars, and other assets, while reaffirming its long-term commitment to Ukraine’s security.