Defence minister Ruben Brekelmans has again reiterated the Netherlands’ support for Ukraine and stressed that Volodymyr Zelensky is a democratically elected president, following comments on Friday by immigration minister Marjolein Faber.

In an English language social media posting marking three years since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Brekelmans said that “Russia is the aggressor” and that Ukraine was “illegally invaded for no reason.”

Putin, he said, is “a dictator. Zelensky is a democratically elected president. Russia commits war crimes; Ukraine has every right to defend itself. Let’s repeat this and support Ukraine as long as needed!”

Brekelmans’ comments are yet another rebuke to Faber, who said on Friday, when pressed by a reporter, that Zelensky “was not democratically elected.”

She was later forced to take back her words after a storm of protest, saying in a written statement that “a perception has arisen” that she doubted his democratic election.

“That is not the case,” the statement said. “The minister absolutely does not doubt Zelensky’s mandate. He was democratically elected.”

On Sunday hundreds of people gathered in the centre of Amsterdam, calling for peace and an end to the war. “Ukraine is not for sale,” said one banner, in reference to US president Donald Trump’s attempts to make Ukraine hand over mineral rights.

Russia is the aggressor, Ukraine is illegally invaded for no reason.

Putin is a dictator, Zelensky is a democratically elected president.

Russia commits war crimes, Ukraine has every right to defend itself.

Let’s repeat this and support Ukraine as long as needed!🇳🇱🇺🇦#Amsterdam pic.twitter.com/xzDj3C7EDn

— Ruben Brekelmans (@DefensieMin) February 23, 2025

In his speech to the rally, Brekelmans said Nato and the European Union should not remove Ukraine’s hope for a better future. “And if we speak to Russia, we must not be naive,” he said. “We all know Putin is not to be trusted.”

“Perhaps he thinks he is once again a normal world leader. Let us test it,” the minister said. “Let us invite him to The Hague. But I can guarantee it will be a one-way ticket—to prison.”