The Netherlands invests 400 million euros to develop drones for Ukraine

by times news cr

2024-10-07 22:10:44

The Dutch Minister of Defense Ruben Brekelmans today arrived on a surprise visit to the city of Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine and examined the large-scale destruction as a result of the Russian attacks, DPA reported, quoted by BTA. The city, located about 40 kilometers from the Russian border, has come under fire from Russian artillery and airstrikes.

“Destroyed apartments. Power shortages. Children going to school in bunkers,” Breckelmans wrote. “Ukraine can only defend itself by keeping Russia at a greater distance,” he added.

The Netherlands is one of the main supporters of Ukraine’s attempts to repel a full-scale Russian invasion, DPA notes.

The Dutch have promised Kiev 24 F-16 fighter jets and recently handed over parts of the Patriot anti-aircraft system to the Ukrainian armed forces, and according to media reports, three launchers are also to be handed over.

Breckelmans said his country would invest 400 million euros in developing advanced drones jointly with Ukraine, and that it would deliver more F-16s in the coming months, Reuters reported.

“We’re going to focus on different types of drones, so it’s both surveillance drones and more defensive drones, but also offensive drones because we see that Ukraine needs these more offensive drones and to deliver strikes on military sites,” Breckelmans also said.

About half of the amount will be spent in the Netherlands, and the rest will be distributed between Ukraine and other countries, he added.

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