President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, held a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of the Netherlands, Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Tom Berendsen, who represent the new Government that began work this week.
On the day the new Government began its work, February 23, Prime Minister of the Netherlands Rob Jetten held his first overseas phone call with the President of Ukraine.
“This is a great honor for us, and such respect for the Ukrainian nation. It is also very important to me that you came. This is a strong signal of support,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The President emphasized that, thanks to cooperation with all Dutch governments throughout this war, relations between our countries have already reached the level of a strategic partnership and trust.
The Head of State expressed gratitude for all support packages, especially in defense, and highlighted the Netherlands’ active participation in the Coalition of the Willing.
The President and the officials discussed opportunities to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense. Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed the importance of continuing the implementation of the PURL initiative, to which the Netherlands was the earliest contributor last year.
“Thanks to this program, we have PAC-3. You know how important this is, especially during this winter. Everyone in Ukraine knows what PURL means and what it means to have missiles for the Patriot systems,” the President noted.
The Head of State also briefed delegates on negotiations for achieving a dignified peace and on preparations for the next trilateral meeting, scheduled for early March.
Special attention was given to deepening defense cooperation between Ukraine and the Netherlands, including joint drone production.
Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius stressed that the Government of the Netherlands will continue to support Ukraine in every possible way. The Minister noted that Ukraine’s fight for independence is a shared struggle, as Ukrainians are defending not only their country but all of Europe.
“You will continue to have our support; you can count on us. And we can not only show our support but also hear from you what more we can do, what is needed, what the situation is, and where we can use our influence and our support to help you,” Tom Berendsen added.