President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte signed a long-term security cooperation agreement on Friday to counter attacks by the Russian army as part of the invasion of Ukrainian territory. Both senior officials met in the city of Kharkiv during Rutte’s visit to the country, where they held a series of negotiations that led to the signing of the pact, which is part of the joint statement by the G7 countries to mark the annual NATO summit in July 2023 in Vilnius.
“The agreement confirms the Netherlands’ decision to continue cooperating to provide and extend assistance to Ukraine in defense against Russian aggression for as long as necessary and is valid for ten years from the date of its signing,” the Ukrainian said Presidency in a statement. In this sense, he emphasized that the agreement stipulates that the country will provide 2 billion euros in military aid in 2024 and commits to supporting Kyiv in defense issues over the next decade.
“More than 20,000 buildings have been destroyed in Kharkiv since the Russian invasion began. Schools, universities, homes, kindergartens and churches. Russian bombings have wreaked havoc on the city, but Kharkiv remains invincible. We are working with partners to provide the city with more protection for the people, the city and the region,” Zelensky explained in a message distributed on the social network
“We honor the memory of the children killed by Russian aggression. “I thank everyone who is working, restoring what was destroyed, saving and helping the affected people,” he said. Rutte, for his part, recalled that Ukraine “has been exposed to Russia’s merciless war for two years” and has suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “trying to destroy the city of Kharkiv.”
“The purpose of my visit is to demonstrate our support for Ukraine,” he said. “On July 17, 2014, the connection between Ukraine and the Netherlands acquired an additional dimension. That day, 298 innocent people lost their lives when Flight MH17 was shot down by a Russian missile over eastern Ukraine. Together with President Zelensky, I spoke to people who were involved in the repatriation of the victims of MH17. It was an emotional moment that left a deep impression on me,” he explained.
The document states that it is planned Providing Ukraine with “modern military equipment and defense industry support.”while prioritizing the Air defense, artillery, armored vehicles and support for naval and air capabilities. In the non-military sphere, it is planned to increase assistance to Ukraine in the areas of economic recovery and reconstruction. Combating hybrid threats, reconnaissance, cybersecurity and information securityCombating serious and organized crime and critical infrastructure.
Furthermore, the document expands the scope of sanctions and advocates “bringing the aggressor state to justice” while reaffirming the Netherlands’ support for Ukraine’s cultural heritage.
On the other hand, the text confirms the Netherlands’ support for the “Future accession of Ukraine to the European Union and NATO” and defines a “24-hour emergency response mechanism in the event of repeated military aggression against Ukraine.”
The two leaders then took part in a meeting with representatives of the Ukrainian military leadership, including Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksander Sirski, as well as the commander of the Ukrainian Air Force. Ukraine, Mikola Oleshchuk.