The Netherlands is buying 500 million euros worth of weapons from the United States to then give to Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense reported on Monday. The Netherlands is thus the first NATO member to respond to a proposal from US President Donald Trump.
The 500 million euro package includes parts of Patriot systems and missiles. “Ukraine urgently needs more air defense and ammunition,” outgoing Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans writes on X.
With the purchase, the Netherlands is participating in the American initiative that Trump launched together with NATO chief Mark Rutte in July. This gives NATO members the opportunity to buy material from the United States for Ukraine. This way, material support goes to Kyiv without the US paying for it financially.
According to the Ministry of Defense, other allies have also pledged funding. The aid does not replace the existing support, but is in addition to it.
“The daily Russian attacks are pure terror, meant to break Ukraine,” Brekelmans says in a statement. “We do not want to let this happen as the Netherlands, and therefore contribute to these American support packages.”
The Netherlands wants to continue to play a pioneering role
According to the minister, American air defense systems and ammunition are crucial for Ukraine to defend itself. He says that the Netherlands “continues to play a pioneering role” when it comes to military support to Ukraine.
With the American initiative, other NATO countries hope to guarantee future support to Ukraine. Trump has repeatedly stated that he no longer wants to spend as much on support for Ukraine as his predecessor Joe Biden. He also expressed concerns about the shrinking supplies in the US itself.
In March, Trump temporarily stopped all arms deliveries and intelligence to Ukraine, after a dispute with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the White House. Later he resumed the deliveries.
Lately, Trump seems to be mainly annoyed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. He is threatening heavy sanctions if Putin does not agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine within a few days.