Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten has warned that international attention must not drift away from Ukraine as tensions rise in the Middle East. Speaking during a visit to Kyiv, Jetten
stressed that Russia’s war against Ukraine continues despite the growing focus on the conflict involving Iran.
During his second foreign trip since taking office, Jetten met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to reaffirm the Netherlands’ commitment to supporting Ukraine.
“Even while the war involving Iran is ongoing, Russian attacks on Ukraine have not stopped,” Jetten said. “It is essential that Ukraine continues to receive sufficient weapons and ammunition so its armed forces can defend the Ukrainian people.”
Zelenskyy welcomed the visit, describing the quickly arranged trip as a clear signal that Ukraine remains a priority for the Dutch government.
Concerns over weapons supplies
In Kyiv, officials have expressed concern that Western nations might redirect critical military equipment—such as Patriot air defence system batteries—to the expanding Middle East conflict.
Dutch Defence Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz addressed those concerns last week during a separate visit to Kyiv alongside Foreign Affairs Minister Tom Berendsen.
Speaking to parliament on Friday, Yeşilgöz said the government would not immediately allocate an additional €2 billion in military aid to Ukraine, despite lawmakers voting in favor of such funding last December.
“The Netherlands cannot provide all the requested support on its own,” she told MPs. However, she emphasized that the government still plans to deliver €3 billion in aid to Ukraine this year, although only €2.6 billion has currently been included in the defence budget.
Dispute over EU aid package
During his talks in Kyiv, Jetten also addressed the fate of a proposed €90 billion support package from the European Union. The funding plan faces potential opposition from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Orbán has threatened to block the package amid tensions over energy supplies. He accuses Ukraine of deliberately cutting off oil deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia through the Druzhba pipeline.
Zelenskyy, however, maintains that the pipeline disruption was caused by damage from a Russian attack earlier this year.
European leaders are scheduled to meet next week to discuss the aid proposal. Slovakia has also signaled it may oppose the plan, adding further uncertainty to the negotiations.
Jetten said resolving the dispute between Orbán and Zelenskyy is essential to ensure continued European support for Ukraine. “It is crucial that this disagreement is settled,” he said, warning that unity within Europe remains key as the war continues. Photo by Martijn Beekman / D66, Wikimedia commons.