The caretaker cabinet has agreed to allocate over €2 billion next year in aid for Ukraine, most of which will go on military support for the war against Russia.

The government will have spent €4.2 billion in military aid by the end of this year. The Netherlands agreed at this summer’s Nato summit to continue its financial backing for Ukraine.

“This is about our security,” defence minister Kajsa Ollongren said. “If Ukraine does not win this war then we have a much bigger problem which is going to cost us a lot more. So I think this is sensible expenditure.”

The war could last for a long time and it is crucial that Ukrainians know what support they can expect, she said. “They cannot do without the certainty of support from allied countries like the Netherlands.”