Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky is in the Netherlands, and on Tuesday (16 December), he will address the Senate and House of Representatives, and meet King Willem-Alexander
He will also meet with caretaker Prime Minister Schoof, and the caretaker Ministers of Foreign Affairs Van Weel and Defense Brekelmans. Zelenskyy was last in the Netherlands during the NATO summit in June of this year.
Since the start of the war in February 2022, the Netherlands has provided €13.5 billion in military aid to Ukraine and around €3.5 billion in other aid. Last week, the caretaker government announced it would release an additional €700 million for Ukraine next year.
Zelensky arrived in the Netherlands on Monday night amid heavy security at Rotterdam The Hague Airport.
Last night, after the meeting other European leaders in Berlin, Dutch caretaker Prime Minister Schoof said that the US cover now feels safe enough for Ukraine and its European allies to also make sacrifices in the negotiations with Russia.
Whether Ukraine should surrender parts or all of the Donbas in those negotiations is a decision for Ukraine, says Schoof. He believes Ukraine, the US, and Europe agree on the importance of security guarantees. "Because that's what allows for Ukraine's recovery after a ceasefire," the caretaker prime minister said.
He expects Ukraine, the US, and its European allies to stipulate a European peacekeeping force, which Russia has so far opposed. "If not only Ukraine, not only Europe, but also the United States says so, then I think Russia will have to move towards that somehow and accept it."
"No one at that table is naive," Schoof emphasized. "We do feel we have momentum. The three of us, but also in relation to Russia, that the coming days or weeks could well be a crucial moment for achieving a ceasefire and ultimately a lasting and just peace."
source: commonspace.eu with NOS, Dutch public radio (Hilversum).
photo: Ukrainian president Zelensky with Dutch Prime Minister Schoof (archive picture).
