Contents tagged with The Netherlands

  • Dutch Defense Minister confirms North Korean troops deployment to Russia

    Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans has confirmed that North Korea is sending troops to Russia to support its ongoing military operations in Ukraine. Initial deployments are expected in the Kursk region before they potentially move to other frontlines, reports NOS. 

    According to Brekelmans, at least 1,500 North Korean soldiers, primarily from special units, have already arrived in Russia. He emphasized that Ukraine is now not only battling Russia but also North Korea, urging the West to …

  • Dutch Defense Minister approves Ukraine's use of F-16s for strikes in Russian territory

    Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans announced that Ukraine has the green light to employ F-16 fighter jets to strike military targets within Russian territory, reports Ukrinform.

    Brekelmans emphasized that utilizing military equipment against Russian targets does not contravene international law, stating, "We have always maintained that Ukraine should adhere to international law. International law does not impose distance restrictions. It doesn’t halt at the border or 100 kilometers beyond …

  • Netherlands faces challenges in garnering support for Ukraine's Patriot missile defense initiative

    Months ago, the Netherlands announced their intent to collaborate with other countries to collect and deliver a Patriot missile battery to Ukraine. However, according to Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans, no other nation has joined the project.

    The Netherlands is transferring only part of its own Patriot air defense system components to Ukraine, said Minister Brekelmans in an interview with FAZ . "We recently delivered a radar system for Patriot to Ukraine. Additionally, we will soon be …

  • Dutch government grants Ukraine permission to use F-16s for strikes inside Russia

    The Netherlands has allowed Ukraine to conduct strikes deep into Russian territory, using weapons it supplied, including F-16 fighter jets. Ukraine's right to self-defense, as acknowledged by Dutch officials, "doesn't end 100 km from the border."

    Ukraine may use Dutch-supplied weapons to target Russian military installations inside Russia, said Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

    "Kyiv has the right to self-defense. If attacks are …

  • Dutch Armed Forces Commander: Ukraine cleared to use Dutch F-16s on Russian soil

    Ukraine can use the F-16 fighter jets received from the Netherlands on Russian soil, said Onno Eichelsheim, the commander of the Dutch Armed Forces. "We have imposed no restrictions on the use or flight range of F-16s, provided they adhere to the laws of war," Eichelsheim revealed during an interview with national broadcaster NOS.

    Eichelsheim mentioned that this policy applies to all weaponry supplied by the Netherlands. The Ukrainian armed forces can utilize them on the battlefield at their …

  • Netherlands and Denmark to supply 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine by summer 2024

    The Netherlands, in partnership with Denmark, is set to deliver 14 fully refurbished Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv. The tanks, restored by the German defense conglomerate Rheinmetall after several months of rigorous testing, are poised for delivery to Ukraine by the end of summer 2024, the Dutch Ministry of Defense announced. While the exact delivery date remains undisclosed, it was noted that the first 12 tanks are already prepped for dispatch, with the remaining two undergoing final tests to ensure …

  • Netherlands pledges additional Patriot missile system and forensic aid to Ukraine in show of support

    During a joint briefing with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, the Netherlands' Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans and Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp have announced that, alongside their partners, they will provide an additional Patriot missile system to Ukraine to bolster its air defence capabilities.

    "We discussed today how this initiative will be implemented and the anticipated delivery timeline of this system to Ukraine," said Kuleba.

    He also noted that the Netherlands had …

  • Netherlands commits €60 million for Ukrainian strike drone initiative

    The Netherlands has allocated €60 million to purchase strike UAVs for Ukraine, including maritime drones and FPV, reported the Dutch Ministry of Defence.

    Specifically, €17.5 million will be allocated for maritime drones, which the Ukrainian Forces will use to target Russian military facilities in the Black Sea. The ministry noted that, through this funding, they are supporting Ukrainian businesses which manufacture UAVs. Additionally, the Dutch Ministry of Defence believes that investments in …

  • Netherlands grants Ukraine freedom to use provided F-16s for striking Russian territory

    The Netherlands' position stands in contrast with Belgium's policy, which prohibits Kyiv from using transferred F-16 fighter jets to strike targets on Russian territory.

    Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren has assured Kyiv that the 24 F-16 fighter jets the Netherlands intends to provide to Ukraine may be used to strike targets on Russian territory.

    Ollongren emphasized that the Netherlands will not enforce any restrictions, as seen in the case of Belgium. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander …

  • Dutch Defense Minister: Netherlands to supply Ukraine with 24 F-16 fighter jets by summer

    Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren has indicated that the Netherlands plans to supply Ukraine with a total of 24 F-16 fighter jets.

    "They will be transferred to Ukraine as soon as everything is ready. This is contingent on the training of Ukrainian pilots and maintenance staff, as well as on the necessary infrastructure," Ollongren said in an interview with Ukrinform.

    Ollongren also discussed the types of weapons needed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces to win the war.

    The head of the …