“Representatives of the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of the Netherlands and the delegation of the Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands discussed the priority areas of aid for the coming year, including the provision of additional spare parts for F-16 and air defense/anti-missile aircraft, tanks, artillery and demining equipment.”, — write: www.ukrinform.ua
On the Ukrainian side, Deputy Ministers of Defense of Ukraine Brigadier General Oleksandr Klochko and Serhiy Boyev, Air Force Commander Brigadier General Oleg Zakharchuk and Acting Commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces Colonel Semyon Kolesnyk took part in the talks. The Dutch delegation was headed by the director of the project department for support of Ukraine of the Ministry of Defense of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Major General Arno Stallmann, and the head of the Coalition of Aviation Capabilities, Colonel Hendrik Kaiser, was also included in its composition.
According to Klochka, Ukraine always thanks the Netherlands for the transfer of F-16 aircraft, because they perform combat work and successfully shoot down enemy missiles. During one of the last mass attacks of the enemy, our pilots shot down 12 cruise missiles.
“Your planes are saving Ukrainian people, their homes and Ukrainian infrastructure,” the brigadier general noted.
The Ukrainian delegation voiced the need for additional spare parts for F-16 aircraft to increase the survivability of the aircraft in active combat conditions. It was also about the details of the execution of combat missions by Ukrainian pilots.
The Netherlands announced military aid plans for 2025: air defense/anti-missile defense, tanks, artillery and mine clearance equipment. Stallmann also called the work within the Drone Coalition a priority for the Dutch side and recalled the previously announced EUR 400 million investment in the production of UAVs.
According to Boev, Ukraine continues to build up the capabilities of its own defense industry and thanks the Netherlands for its support in this direction.
“We have a list of priorities for production for 2025, for the implementation of which the investments of partners are important,” said Boev.
Read also: The Ministry of Defense discussed the attraction of investments in Ukrainian with the director of the NATO fund OPC Stallmann expressed his gratitude to Ukraine for the transfer of experience in the use of technologies on the battlefield and noted that this helps the Netherlands to improve its own products in accordance with the needs of the front. This increases efficiency for further assistance.
According to him, the Netherlands is among the top five countries providing aid to Ukraine.
“And we are ready to support this leadership in the coming year – we will help as much as necessary. We are always in touch for consultations on the more effective use of F-16 aircraft and continue to train Ukrainian pilots,” Stallmann emphasized.
As reported by Ukrinform, the United Expeditionary Force will provide Ukraine with 12 billion euros in military aid in 2025.
Photo: mod.gov.ua