Minor Christian party ChristenUnie will not support the compromise deal on the EU’s treaty with Ukraine struck by prime minister Mark Rutte last week.

Leader Gert-Jan Segers told the Nederlands Dagblad on Tuesday that he had faced a ‘major, old-fashioned dilemma’.

However, he said he had decided not to support the deal because the confidence of ordinary citizens in the political system is more important than the relationship with Ukraine or sending a signal to Russia.

Last week Rutte won the support of the 27 other European leaders for a supplementary declaration to the Ukraine treaty which makes it clear what the agreement actually entails.

This, he hopes, will enable the Dutch parliament to ratify the treaty, despite the April referendum in which 61% voted against ratification. Even though the referendum was advisory, MPs have said justice must be done to the outcome

The prime minister can count on a majority in the lower house of parliament because GroenLinks have said they will support the deal. In the senate, however, he is short of at least three seats and is counting on the backing of the Christian Democrats.

MPs will debate the deal on Tuesday evening.