Dutch defence minister warns of Ukraine's precarious position
The Dutch Minister of Defence, Ruben Brekelmans, has expressed a pessimistic view about the situation in Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia. In his opinion, Russia currently has the upper hand, and "you could even say that Ukraine is losing the war." He shared this position during a debate in the Dutch parliament.
The minister, as reported by the ANP agency, noted that Russian forces are occupying more areas of Ukrainian territory, and the country's energy infrastructure is being regularly attacked with missiles and drones. "And Russia’s military power is increasing," he added.
Brekelmans believes that a ceasefire or peace agreement will not eliminate the threat from Russia, as the Kremlin may then focus on the Baltic states.
"Patriot missiles simply do not exist"
The opposition in parliament, responding to these comments, questioned why the government in The Hague is not increasing investments in aid for Ukraine, given Brekelmans' scepticism about the current situation. According to ANP, the opposition contends that more support is critical at this moment.
The minister replied that increasing the supply of weapons is challenging due to high international demand. "Patriot missiles simply do not exist," he said.
He also added that the government is investing directly in Ukraine's defence industry, supporting capabilities such as the production of advanced drones. For this purpose, he declared CAD 595 million. However, according to opposition parties, this amount is insufficient.
