The Netherlands has allocated $223 million for an initiative to strengthen Ukraine's air defense, as well as the supply of artillery shells, according to the Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands.
"Air defense equipment and artillery ammunition are essential for Ukraine. The situation is becoming critical. The resources currently provided by the Netherlands are already on the European continent and will be delivered to Ukraine as quickly as possible," stated the head of the department, Kajsa Ollongren, during the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting.
Air defense
The Netherlands allocates $159 million to support Germany's initiative aimed at purchasing and delivering long-range air defense systems to Ukraine.
In particular, the Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands will purchase short-range air defense systems worth $63.93 million. The same equipment can be used to counter drones.
Artillery shells
The Ministry also reminds that the Netherlands supports Estonia's initiative for the rapid delivery of artillery ammunition to Ukraine from existing stocks.
"Earlier, the Netherlands announced allocating 266 million euros for a similar Czech plan for the rapid supply of a larger quantity of shells," the Ministry adds.
Ukraine's needs
In recent months, as the terrorist country has intensified its massive shelling, the issue of strengthening Ukraine's air defense has become even more acute.
As President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted in his address to the leaders of the European Union, Ukraine needs deliveries of Patriot, IRIS-T, SAMP/T, and NASAMS air defense systems. He previously mentioned that only 25 Patriots are enough for complete sky protection.
The President also recently initiated a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council, during which the allies agreed to strengthen Ukraine's air defense.
Other urgent needs of Ukraine include:
- artillery shells
- long-range weapons
- aviation;
- expediting the delivery of promised aid.
