The Netherlands pledges €500 million in Ukraine military support

The package will be purchased directly from the United States, making the Netherlands the first Nato country to fund supplies from the so-called Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) – a list drawn up by Ukraine of the weaponry and materials it urgently needs.

The scheme was devised by US president Donald Trump and Nato secretary general Mark Rutte to shift the cost of military aid away from the US and towards other Nato members during the recent summit in The Hague.

Brekelmans told MPs in a briefing that the exact contents of the Dutch-funded package could not be disclosed for operational reasons. However, he said, it includes air defence systems, ammunition, combat vehicles, spare parts and “other critical equipment” that will help Ukraine continue to defend itself against Russian attacks.

The minister told the Telegraaf that the package contains components for the Patriot and HAWK air defence systems, which Ukraine has been requesting to counter increasingly intense Russian air strikes. Only the US manufactures Patriot systems, which cost more than €1 billion each.

Germany announced last week it would send two of its own Patriot systems to Ukraine, with the US supplying replacements. The move follows weeks of negotiations within Nato about how to boost Ukraine’s long-range air defence capabilities.

Brekelmans said he expected other Nato countries to follow the Netherlands’ lead and fund similar support packages. “When Russia has the upper hand militarily in Ukraine, it is less likely to enter ceasefire talks seriously,” he said. “That is why it is essential to increase pressure on Russia, through both sanctions and military aid.”

Nato secretary general Mark Rutte welcomed the Dutch move. “The Netherlands is taking the lead and delivering concrete support on the ground,” he said on social media. “I expect further significant announcements from other allies soon.”

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky also thanked the Netherlands after speaking with prime minister Dick Schoof. “Ukraine – and thus the whole of Europe – will be better protected from Russian terror,” he said on social media.