Ukraine must be supported in every possible way to ensure it has the strongest possible position at the negotiating table.
Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp stated this in an interview with Ukrinform.
“The Netherlands has always been very clear on this: Ukraine’s future is in NATO. Ukraine will join once the conditions for accession are met and once there’s consensus among allies on accession. Until such time, our goal is to continue supporting Ukraine in whichever way we can, to make sure it has as strong a position at the negotiating table as possible: peace through strength. Nothing should be decided about Ukraine without Ukraine, and nothing should be decided about Europe without Europe,” Veldkamp said.
He noted that since February 24, 2022, the Netherlands has allocated over EUR 17 billion in support for Ukraine, with more than EUR 10 billion directed toward military assistance. Specifically, the country has supplied F-16 fighter jets, parts for Patriot air defense systems, drones, ammunition, non-lethal assistance, and more.
“But we’re also doing a lot beyond military support. For instance, we also substantially support Ukraine’s recovery efforts, international efforts to hold Russia accountable for starting the war and liable for the resulting damage, and Ukraine’s domestic efforts to prosecute the many war crimes committed in Ukraine. We also provide practical assistance to the efforts to find and identify the missing Ukrainian children,” Veldkamp said.
He also stressed that from the very beginning of the war, the Netherlands has been a frontrunner in discussions on sanctions against Russia.
“We have always said that there are no taboos for us when it comes to taking measures to counter Putin’s war efforts. As a part of that, we have also been emphasizing the importance of compliance; making sure we prevent sanctions being circumvented. In January, we organized a special conference to discuss how we can be more effective in implementing current sanctions and preventing circumvention, both nationally and within the EU. During the conference, there was a special exhibition showcasing Russian weapons that included Western components, to call special attention to this issue,” he said.
Veldkamp recalled that his first visit to Ukraine as Dutch foreign minister took place just days after the government was formed.
“That was a very deliberate choice: we wanted to show that this cabinet is committed to continuing support for Ukraine and tell the Ukrainian government this in person. That was my first visit as Foreign Minister. But I have visited Ukraine several times in various capacities, also in better times,” he said, adding that he first visited Ukraine back in the 1990s.
In early February, Ukraine received a batch of F-16 fighter jets from the Netherlands.
Source: Dutch foreign minister emphasizes support for Ukraine to strengthen its negotiation position
