Netherlands pledges 500 million euros for Ukraine winter air defence as Zelensky visits The Hague

A winter package from money already reserved

On Wednesday 28 October, Volodymyr Zelensky met Prime Minister Rob Jetten at the Catshuis in The Hague, one stop on a European tour that has also taken him to Brussels, Oslo and London. Zelensky, who has visited the Netherlands several times since the full-scale invasion began, thanked the Dutch government and said Ukraine urgently needs more help. Jetten then announced 500 million euros for a 'winter support package' covering air defence and drones. The money is not new. It is drawn from aid the Netherlands had already promised, and it forms part of the 3 billion euros of military support pledged earlier.

Jetten said Russian air attacks are growing more intense and causing civilian deaths.

“More and more innocent victims are falling.”

Non-military aid and a trade mission

Separately, Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, the minister for foreign trade and development cooperation, announced in Kyiv that the Netherlands will make 1.2 billion euros of non-military aid available over the next three years. According to NOS, 878 million euros comes from the coalition agreement and 327 million euros was announced on Prinsjesdag. The money is meant for the most urgent needs, including humanitarian aid, drinking water, energy, reconstruction and demining. A government statement sets out the 2026 allocations: 40 million euros for the Ukraine Energy Support Fund this year, 55 million for energy equipment and materials, 136 million for the Ukraine Partnership Facility that supports Dutch companies, and 19.5 million for export insurance. Around 150 million euros is set aside for companies helping with reconstruction.

Ukraine Energy Support Fund40

Energy equipment and materials55

Ukraine Partnership Facility136

Export insurance19.5

Ukraine Energy Support Fund

40 million euros

Energy equipment and materials

55 million euros

Ukraine Partnership Facility

136 million euros

Export insurance

19.5 million euros

Data from the article text

Coalition agreement878

Prinsjesdag announcement327

Coalition agreement

878 million euros

Prinsjesdag announcement

327 million euros

Data from the article text

Sjoerdsma described the situation in Ukraine in stark terms, as reported by Telegraaf.

“Ukraine is under heavy fire and faces a very difficult winter.”

Sjoerdsma is leading a trade mission to Kyiv this week together with VNO-NCW chairman Coen van Oostrom, who hopes Dutch firms will find their way to the city. A large group of Dutch companies had been expected to travel, but that plan was dropped as too dangerous. The trip came the day after a bridge and a university building in Kyiv were bombed, and Sjoerdsma said attacks with advanced drones and ballistic missiles are increasing.

Winter threat and the wait for US missiles

Russia is attacking Ukrainian power plants, and the coming winter may be the hardest since the invasion began in February 2022. Ukraine faces a serious shortage of Patriot missiles, which it needs to intercept Russian ballistic missiles. Ukraine says it has been waiting almost a month for US approval to deliver critical air defence missiles, and satellite data from Starlink was briefly unavailable. Zelensky said each day of delay brings new losses for Ukraine, and Jetten pledged to do everything possible to press the Americans to act quickly. With Donald Trump appearing to lean toward Vladimir Putin, Zelensky has been travelling across Europe to secure support.

Talks in Abu Dhabi

Negotiations between Ukraine, Russia and the United States are being prepared for Abu Dhabi. Preparations are described as being in full swing, and the talks are planned for next month, although no date has been set. Zelensky expects discussions to resume between 6 and 10 November, after the US midterm elections. He said Ukraine is waiting for the Americans before moving forward. Jetten argued that Putin is losing the war and that the Russian economy is in a mess, while stressing that the Netherlands will keep backing Kyiv.

Other meetings and reactions

Zelensky also held talks with Dilan Yesilgöz, who is vice-prime minister and defence minister, and with foreign minister Tom Berendsen. He spoke with the chief executives of Philips, VDL and TNO as well. At the joint press conference, Jetten told Zelensky that Ukraine's fight is also Europe's.

“You are not alone: your fight is our fight.”

The Dutch government described the aid as urgently needed to help Ukraine through the winter. Zelensky was also due to visit King Willem-Alexander at Paleis Huis ten Bosch that evening.