(KYIV) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten held a joint briefing in Kyiv, reaffirming the Netherlands’ continued political, military and financial support for Ukraine as the country continues to defend itself against Russia’s invasion.
Zelenskyy welcomed the Dutch prime minister on what he described as an important and symbolic visit. The trip took place soon after Jetten assumed office as head of the new Dutch government. Zelenskyy noted that the prime minister had first travelled to Brussels and then to Kyiv, a sequence he said demonstrated the Netherlands’ commitment to defending a united democratic Europe and maintaining Ukraine as a strategic priority.
The Ukrainian president thanked the Netherlands for supporting Ukraine from the first days of the war across several areas, including defence assistance, energy support and political backing. The two leaders also discussed preparation of Ukraine’s energy system for the coming season.
Zelenskyy also highlighted Dutch support for sanctions against Russia and the Netherlands’ role in international efforts to hold Russian war criminals accountable. Work is under way in the Netherlands to establish a special tribunal for the crime of Russian aggression against Ukraine. Zelenskyy said Ukraine expects the organisational work for such a tribunal to be prepared this year.
The leaders discussed a wide range of bilateral issues. Zelenskyy briefed Jetten on the battlefield situation and the continued Russian attacks that Ukraine faces daily. He stressed that Ukraine requires stable and sustained international support for as long as the war continues.
The Netherlands has committed to predictable annual assistance of three billion euros each year, equivalent to about 3.28 billion US dollars at current exchange rates. Zelenskyy thanked the Dutch government for this decision.
The Netherlands is also investing in the PL programme, which Ukraine considers critical for acquiring air defence missiles. Zelenskyy said the programme helps secure supplies of PAC 2 and PAC 3 missiles for Patriot air defence systems, which Ukraine relies on to defend against Russian ballistic missile attacks.
The Ukrainian president also confirmed that Ukraine and the Netherlands have begun cooperating on joint weapons production. The two countries intend to expand this cooperation further. A joint statement adopted during the visit includes provisions for increased investment, licensing agreements and expanded production volumes.
Zelenskyy also said Ukrainian forces recently requested additional radar systems during a visit to the front line in Druzhkivka in Donetsk region. He described the issue as an urgent and sensitive defence requirement. The Netherlands is among the countries that manufacture advanced radar systems, and the matter was discussed during the meeting.
The two leaders also addressed broader geopolitical challenges, including the war in the Middle East. Zelenskyy said Ukraine and its partners are coordinating to ensure European interests are protected and that instability surrounding Iran does not create further problems for Europe.
Ukraine has already begun contributing to stabilisation efforts. According to Zelenskyy, countries in the region and the United States have asked Ukraine for assistance. Ukraine plans to provide expertise and operational experience gained from defending against Iranian designed Shahed drones and cruise missile attacks.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s experience with modern air defence and drone warfare is now recognised internationally. He argued that European countries should strengthen their own defensive capabilities using lessons learned from the Ukrainian battlefield.
The Ukrainian leader also raised the issue of Russia’s shadow fleet of oil tankers. He said Russia’s war effort depends heavily on oil revenues and called on European states to take stronger action to block and confiscate tankers transporting Russian oil.
Zelenskyy noted that many such vessels continue to operate in European waters. He said the Netherlands is working on possible legislative measures to address the issue. The matter has also been discussed with France, the European Commission and other European partners.
The Ukrainian president also expressed support for a proposed 20th package of sanctions against Russia and said Ukraine hopes its partners will unblock the measure.
Zelenskyy further thanked the Netherlands for supporting a proposal to provide Ukraine with financial security guarantees worth ninety billion euros over two years, equivalent to roughly 98.5 billion US dollars. He said such support would directly affect how many lives Ukraine can protect from Russian attacks.
Dutch Prime Minister Jetten said he was honoured to stand alongside Zelenskyy and reaffirmed that the Netherlands views Ukraine’s struggle as a defence of European freedom and democratic values.
He said he had assured Zelenskyy in a telephone call shortly after his election that the new Dutch government would maintain full support for Ukraine in the coming years. Jetten added that visiting Kyiv early in his tenure was a priority.
Dutch Defence and Foreign Ministers also visited Ukraine the previous week to meet their Ukrainian counterparts. Jetten said such contacts help ensure that assistance programmes match Ukraine’s evolving needs.
He acknowledged that the past winter had been extremely difficult for Ukraine due to continued Russian attacks on infrastructure. The Netherlands therefore considers energy support a key element of its policy.
The Dutch government has provided half a billion euros, about 547 million US dollars, to support gas purchases and repairs to Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Jetten said the Netherlands will continue identifying further areas where assistance may be required.
The Netherlands is also one of the largest contributors to the PL programme and recently financed an additional package of missiles. Jetten confirmed that the Netherlands is investing in the production of hundreds of thousands of drones for use on the battlefield and supporting joint drone manufacturing in both Ukraine and the Netherlands.
He said Ukraine’s experience fighting with rapidly evolving military technology provides valuable lessons for European allies.
At the same time, Jetten said allies must continue working towards a lasting peace. He said Ukraine has demonstrated a constructive approach while Russia continues to present unrealistic demands.
The Dutch prime minister said international attention can sometimes shift due to major geopolitical events, including recent military operations involving the United States and Israel in the Middle East. Nevertheless, he said allies must remain focused on supporting Ukraine.
Jetten added that Iran has played a negative role in the conflict by assisting Russia, and expressed hope that such support would end.
He also said he was impressed by the determination of Ukrainians he met during his visit. Despite constant Russian attacks, he said, the resilience and motivation of Ukrainians remain strong.
During the question session, a journalist asked Zelenskyy about reports that Russian forces are preparing a spring offensive.
Zelenskyy said Russia’s primary objectives remain the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. He said the Russian plan has not changed but has been delayed because Russian forces currently lack the necessary capabilities and because of the actions of Ukrainian defence forces.
He added that Russian forces had also considered operations in southern Ukraine, including the Zaporizhzhia region and areas between Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia.
Ukrainian forces have carried out several defensive operations in the south over the past six weeks aimed at disrupting Russian plans. Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces had regained control of roughly four hundred to four hundred and thirty five square kilometres in that sector.
The front remains tense, he said, but morale among Ukrainian forces has improved compared with the situation at the end of 2025.
Responding to questions about the Middle East conflict, Zelenskyy said Ukraine and its partners discussed the need to ensure continued military support for Ukraine despite new crises elsewhere.
He confirmed that Ukraine is prepared to share expertise and potentially deploy expert teams to assist with defence against drone and missile attacks if partner countries request such assistance and provide appropriate protection.
Zelenskyy also commented on criticism from former US President Donald Trump. He said increasing criticism may simply indicate that Ukraine is continuing to act effectively in defending its people.
Zelenskyy emphasised that Ukraine’s priority remains protecting civilians and supporting those under attack.
The two leaders also discussed cooperation in defence industry production. Jetten said Dutch and Ukrainian companies plan to expand joint drone manufacturing to increase supply both for Ukraine’s armed forces and for European security more broadly.
The Dutch prime minister reiterated that the Netherlands supports Ukraine’s eventual membership of the European Union.
He said Ukraine’s future lies in Europe and praised the progress made on reforms despite the pressures of war. European partners will discuss realistic timelines for Ukraine’s accession in the coming months.
Zelenskyy said the decision to pursue membership of the European Union reflects the will of Ukrainian society rather than any individual leader.
He said Russia’s aggression is partly driven by Ukraine’s geopolitical choice to join Europe. Ukraine therefore continues to defend its democratic system, its communities and its families.
Zelenskyy added that Europe must now decide how quickly it can integrate Ukraine into the European Union, arguing that Europe would be stronger with Ukraine as a member.
Asked whether the war in the Middle East could distract attention from Ukraine, Zelenskyy said every war is a tragedy but acknowledged that global attention can shift.
He expressed hope that the conflict in the Middle East will not become prolonged. However, he warned that if peace talks do not begin quickly there is a risk of escalation that could reduce international focus on Ukraine.
Less attention, he said, could lead to reduced support and weaker air defence coverage for Ukraine.
The press conference concluded after the leaders answered several questions from journalists.
