Zelenskyy Thanks Netherlands for Military Aid, Urges Action on Russian Assets
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during his visit to The Hague, announced multi-billion-euro support for Ukraine from the Netherlands and urged Europe to use frozen Russian assets for reparations.
The Gaze reports on this, citing Ukrinform.
Zelenskyy said that next year the Netherlands will allocate €3.5 billion in support for Ukraine, along with an additional €2 billion in defense assistance. He thanked the Netherlands for supplying Patriot air defense systems, F-16 fighter jets, artillery, drones, and for its leadership in the PURL initiative, which helps protect civilians and strengthen the air shield over Ukraine and Europe.
Zelenskyy also called on the Netherlands and the international community to support the proposal for a reparations loan for Ukraine and the use of frozen Russian assets to compensate for the damage caused by the war. He stressed that these funds “must be fully used to defend against Russia’s aggression” and that the aggressor must pay for its actions.
He emphasized that the peace process requires strong international security guarantees to ensure that Russia cannot attack Ukraine again, noting that “criminals do not change in a day.”
Zelenskyy also spoke about his recent visit to Kupyansk and highlighted the importance of exposing Russian propaganda and falsehoods.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof explained that the issue of funding a reparations mechanism would be addressed after the end of active hostilities, with the current priority being a ceasefire and the achievement of peace.
“I believe it is perfectly normal to negotiate reparations after the war. First, we must make sure that we can achieve a ceasefire and finally reach peace. Then it is entirely normal to talk about reparations and the country’s reconstruction,” he said.
He added that discussions on the use of frozen Russian assets are ongoing at the EU level, and that the Dutch government supports the European Commission’s proposal, although a final decision has not yet been made.
The Netherlands continues to demonstrate unwavering support for Ukraine by expanding both its military and financial assistance. Earlier, the Dutch government has announced an additional €250 million contribution to the PURL initiative to fund US-produced weapons and ammunition, reinforcing Ukraine’s air defense and combat capabilities amid ongoing Russian attacks. Notably, the Netherlands previously financed the first €500 million PURL package, becoming one of the initiative’s main contributors.
At the same time, the Netherlands has reaffirmed its political backing for using frozen Russian assets to provide Ukraine with a reparations loan, emphasizing that Russia must pay for the destruction it has caused. Dutch officials stress that sustained military aid and decisive financial measures remain essential to strengthening Ukraine’s defense and increasing pressure on Moscow.
Read also on The Gaze: Reparations from Russia: The EU Council has All the Tools to Provide Money to Ukraine