Netherlands to provide Ukraine with Patriot missiles and help purchase patrol boats

14 October, 2023 Launch of an anti-aircraft missile of the Patriot system. Photo from open sources The Netherlands will provide Ukraine with missiles for Patriot air defense systems to help defend itself against Russian air strikes.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte wrote about this on the social network X. Mark Rutte arrived for an unannounced visit in Odesa on Friday, October 13, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He noted that he had come to Odesa at the invitation of the Ukrainian President to show that "the terrible events in Israel and Gaza will not distract" the Netherlands from supporting Ukraine.

"We will keep supporting Ukraine, for as long as it takes. This winter, Russia will try to hurt Ukraine as much as possible. So the Netherlands will supply extra Patriot missiles, so that Ukraine can defend itself against Russia's barbaric airstrikes," the Dutch Prime Minister wrote.

Mark Rutte's meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky, October 13, 2023, Odesa.

Rutte noted that during his stay he visited the port of Odesa, "where Ukrainian civilians are working hard in the most difficult of circumstances".

Volodymyr Zelensky and Mark Rutte in the port of Odesa, October 13, 2023.

"The Netherlands will help Ukraine acquire patrol boats which can help keep the shipping route for grain exports safe," he added.

As previously reported, in April of this year, Ukraine received two Patriot SAM launchers and an unspecified number of anti-aircraft missiles from the Netherlands as part of military aid.

Patriot SAM launcher of the Netherlands. Photo credits: NATO media library.

As Militarnyi previously reported, the Netherlands will send F-16 fighter jets to Romania for the training of Ukrainian pilots within a few weeks.

"That's going very well. We hope to transfer 12 to 18 aircraft to Romania within a few weeks, which means the center can start operating," said Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren.

F-16AM (Block 20 MLU) of the Royal Netherlands Air Force. Photo from open sources

In August, Militarnyi reported on the transfer of F-16 fighter jets by the Netherlands.

Dutch military support for Ukraine now amounts to 2.1 billion euros, according to the latest update on the aid that Minister Ollongren submitted to the parliament.