Incoming Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten reaffirmed support for Ukraine on Friday and ruled out talks with Moscow, saying there are “no indications” that Russia wants to end the war.
“As long as the aggression continues, we will continue our support for the Ukrainian people,” Jetten said in comments cited by AFP.
It came as the premier-elect released a 79-page governing manifesto, finalized after weeks of intense negotiations with his two coalition allies. The document makes clear that the Netherlands does not intend to scale back its backing of Kyiv.
“The fight in Ukraine is about the security of the whole of Europe,” reads the manifesto, entitled “Getting to Work”.
“So we are continuing our own multi-year financial and military support and we will continue to argue for the use of frozen Russian assets,” the text states, per AFP.
Beyond Ukraine, the incoming government committed to legally enshrining NATO’s defense spending benchmark of 3.5 percent of GDP – a target strongly advocated by US President Donald Trump.
Dutch defense expenditure currently totals about $28 billion annually. That figure exceeds the military budgets of every EU NATO member except France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain – all countries with populations at least double that of the Netherlands.
Dutch Foreign Minister, David van Weel, told POLITICO in remarks published on Friday that the next government intends to reinforce NATO and preserve the strained transatlantic partnership that remains central to Dutch security.
“You will have a government that will look at the world as it is and not as it wishes it to be,” Van Weel said. “Therefore you will see a government that will still consider NATO to be the cornerstone of our collective security.”
He characterized Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine as a “major wake-up call” for the EU’s role in the “security realm.”
“Even if you don’t want to do it [increase defense spending] for NATO, even if you don’t want to do it to please the US, you should do it for your own interests,” he said. “And that’s why I am happy that our own coalition will indeed ensure that we reach the targets for defense spending.”
Van Weel also expressed cautious optimism that a negotiated settlement to the war could be within reach, while stressing that Washington must intensify pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to bring him into meaningful negotiations.
“We do need the US president to put pressure on Russia to come to the negotiating table to finish this conflict,” he said. “It really is time for peace.”
Meanwhile, in a phone call with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, Dick Schoof, predecessor of Jetten, reiterated the Netherlands’ steadfast commitment to Ukraine.
“Due to the Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, and the prolonged extreme cold, Ukrainians are facing unprecedented hardship. Every day, I am impressed by their fighting spirit and perseverance,” he wrote on X.
“I have reiterated to President Zelensky that the Netherlands stands firmly with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. Ukraine has shown in every respect that it is willing to negotiate peace,” he continued.
“It is now up to Russia to show the same willingness. Not attacking Kyiv for a week would be a small step in the right direction, but attacks on civilian targets in other cities must also cease immediately.”
Zelensky had in December told the Dutch parliament that international support for Ukraine is just as crucial today as it was at the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.