Opposition parties are pressing prime minister Dick Schoof to take firm steps to support Ukraine following US president Donald Trump’s refusal to give the country security guarantees against Russia.

Schoof held back from pledging further military or financial aid at the weekend meeting of western leaders in London to form a “coalition of the willing” for Ukraine.

Schoof said Europe would have to do more to defend itself in future, but the parties in his coalition are divided on how much, and how quickly, to step up financial and military aid.

Frans Timmermans, leader of the left-wing group GroenLinks-PvdA, called on the prime minister to be more pro-active, pointing out that there is strong support for Ukraine across parliament.

“I would have liked to see the Netherlands take a step forward, as other countries have done,” Timmermans said after Schoof returned from London.

Rob Jetten, leader of the progressive liberal D66 party, said the prime minister should have “spelled out what extra support we will deliver to the Ukrainians,” while Christian Democrat (CDA) leader Henri Bontenbal said: “There is a broad majority saying: do whatever is necessary, show leadership!”

Een grote meerderheid in Nederland en in de Tweede Kamer wil meer steun voor Oekraïne en meer investeren in onze veiligheid.

Maar het kabinet wil de PVV en Trump tevreden houden.

In crisistijd ga je niet eindeloos vergaderen, maar toon je leiderschap. Kabinet, doe wat nodig is! pic.twitter.com/XUt2PXIsMJ

— Rob Jetten (@RobJetten) March 3, 2025

Nato contribution

Within the coalition the right-wing liberal VVD is the most enthusiastic supporter of stronger military action, including raising the Nato contribution, but until recently its partners PVV and BBB wanted to keep the limit at 2%.

Geert Wilders, leader of the far-right PVV, has ruled out sending Dutch troops to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping force, but indicated in recent days he is prepared to consider increasing financial and military support.

NSC, the fourth coalition partner, has not clarified its position, although foreign affairs minister Caspar Veldkamp told TV talk show Eva that he could accept Dutch participation in a “deterrent force” in Ukraine, provided there were clear conditions such as security guarantees and a command structure.

Veldkamp said Nato members need to decide within the next few weeks what steps to take and not wait until the defence alliance’s summit in The Hague in June.