President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the Netherlands on Oct. 28 for talks with Dutch officials on defense and economic cooperation, as Kyiv seeks to drum up European support amid deteriorating ties with the U.S. The visit coincided with the Netherlands confirming a 1.2-billion-euro ($1.3 billion) package of non-military assistance over the next three years.
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten will welcome Zelensky at his official residence, Catshuis, in The Hague, after which the two will hold bilateral talks, according to the Dutch government.
"We will discuss defense and economic cooperation, strengthening Ukrainian air defense, and new steps to support Ukraine," Zelensky said on X upon his arrival.
The Netherlands confirmed a 1.2-billion-euro ($1.3 billion) package of non-military assistance over the next three years, aimed at supporting Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction. The country has also provided Kyiv with about $10 billion in military aid as of mid-2026, including F-16 fighter jets, Patriot air-defense launchers and funding for packages under NATO's PURL program.
Ukrainian delegates will hold talks with Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen and Dutch Defense Minister Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius, followed by a meeting between Ukrainian and Dutch business leaders. Zelensky is also scheduled to meet Dutch King Willem-Alexander at Huis ten Bosch, the royal palace in The Hague.
The president's trip coincided with Dutch Foreign Trade Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma's visit to Kyiv for talks with Ukrainian officials. Sjoerdsma outlined details of the three-year support package, including 40 million euros ($45 million) for the Ukraine Energy Support Fund and 55 million euros ($62 million) to fund energy equipment from Dutch companies for their Ukrainian partners.
Ukraine braces for another harsh winter as Russia has already begun striking the country's energy infrastructure, still heavily battered after the previous winter.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The confirmed 1.2-billion-euro ($1.3 billion) Dutch package will fund Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction over three years, at a time when the country faces another winter of Russian strikes on its energy grid.
- The visit is part of Kyiv's push to secure European support as relations with the U.S. deteriorate.
- Air defense is high on the agenda just as Russia has already begun targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure again.
Background
The Netherlands has been one of Ukraine's largest military backers, providing about $10 billion in military aid as of mid-2026, including F-16 fighter jets and Patriot air-defense launchers, as well as funding for packages under NATO's PURL program. Ukraine's energy network was heavily battered during the previous winter, and Russia has already resumed strikes on it ahead of the coming cold season.
What to Watch
- What emerges from the bilateral talks between Zelensky and Prime Minister Jetten at Catshuis, particularly any new commitments on air defense.
- Whether the 55 million euros earmarked for energy equipment from Dutch companies reaches Ukrainian partners before winter strikes intensify.
- How European allies respond as Kyiv's ties with Washington worsen.