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Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has praised the Netherlands for providing high-level military assistance to Ukraine, highlighting Dutch support for air defense, drone development, and defense innovation, UATV English reports.
Speaking at a joint press conference in The Hague with Dutch Defense Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, Fedorov said the Netherlands remains one of Ukraine’s most reliable partners in Europe.
“If we compare the quality of support provided by your country with that of the rest of the world, and especially with other European countries, the level of support is exceptionally high. We see this clearly through the delivery of Patriot systems, contributions to the PURL initiative, and the Netherlands’ support for highly effective drone programs,” Fedorov said.
The Ukrainian minister expressed particular gratitude for the Dutch government’s decision to allocate additional funding for Ukraine’s air defense capabilities.
According to Fedorov, Russia is increasingly attempting to compensate for its inability to achieve strategic objectives on the battlefield through large-scale missile and drone attacks against civilian targets.
“Putin is unable to achieve his goals at the front, which is why he continues to attack Ukrainian cities with ballistic and cruise missiles,” Fedorov stated.
He noted that recent Russian strikes damaged residential buildings, civilian infrastructure, and cultural and religious sites, including the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
The minister emphasized that every additional investment in air defense directly contributes to saving lives and strengthening Ukraine’s ability to protect its population.
“This support saves Ukrainian lives. It strengthens our ability to repel Russian attacks and defend our cities,” he said.
Fedorov also welcomed the Netherlands’ decision to support drone production and joint defense-industrial projects involving Ukrainian and Dutch companies.
“I would also like to thank the Netherlands for supporting drone manufacturing and joint production initiatives. What matters is not simply the quantity of drones, but their effectiveness. We know which systems are delivering results on the battlefield today and contributing to our victory,” he said.
According to Fedorov, these capabilities include long-range strike systems that enable Ukraine to target military assets deep behind enemy lines.
The minister additionally praised the signing of a bilateral memorandum on cooperation in defense innovation, describing it as an important step toward strengthening technological collaboration between the two countries.
During the visit, the Ukrainian delegation toured one of the Netherlands’ leading innovation centers and discussed future projects aimed at enhancing battlefield effectiveness through advanced technologies.
“What we are building together today is helping change the situation on the battlefield,” Fedorov said.
He stressed that the Netherlands consistently demonstrates a results-oriented approach in its cooperation with Ukraine and that both sides are already working on ambitious plans to expand collaboration further.
“At every level of communication with the Netherlands, we see a clear focus on practical outcomes. We already have ambitious plans for achieving even more together,” he said.
Fedorov also emphasized that Ukraine is not only seeking assistance from partners but is increasingly ready to share its own combat experience and expertise, particularly in the fields of unmanned systems, digital warfare, and modern security technologies.
The remarks come shortly after the Dutch government announced an additional €250 million package to support the supply and production of drones for Ukraine, further expanding one of the most dynamic areas of bilateral defense cooperation.
Read also: Fedorov discusses Ukraine’s defense priorities with EU officials in Brussels
