Netherlands to allocate €300 mln for ammunition for Ukrainian F-16s

On July 10, the Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands announced allocating an additional €300 million to purchase weapons for F-16 fighters, which will soon be transferred to Ukraine.

Rubryka writes about this, referring to the websites of the Dutch Ministry of Defense and Ukraine's president's office.

As noted, additional €300 million will complement the €150 million already allocated by the Netherlands for equipping the F-16s that will go to Ukraine. The funds will be used to purchase equipment directly in the industry.

"With the ammunition we will acquire, the F-16s can help repel Russian attacks. Putin's aggression knows no bounds, so our support must continue at full speed," commented Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans.

He also emphasized that by buying this additional ammunition for the F-16, the Netherlands wants to send a signal to Moscow that NATO allies will continue to unceasingly support Ukraine.

"Russia should not win this war. It is also in the interests of our security," the minister added.

It is worth adding that the first personal meeting of the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, with the recently appointed Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Dick Schoof, took place within the framework of the NATO summit in Washington.

They discussed the importance of strengthening Ukrainian air defense before the start of the school year and the heating season, as well as other defense needs in Ukraine, particularly regarding equipping additional brigades.

Zelensky and Schoof separately addressed the development of defense cooperation between the states. During the meeting, they also discussed the need to transition to long-term planning of Ukrainian pilot training.

The leaders of the USA, Denmark, and the Netherlands confirmed on the sidelines of the summit that Ukraine will receive the first F-16 aircraft during the summer.

We will remind you that the Netherlands has already completed the necessary permit to export F-16 fighter jets, which will be transferred to Ukraine. The first plane will be sent to Ukraine soon.

Also, ten Ukrainian servicemen underwent training in the Netherlands to maintain F-16 combat aircraft.