The Netherlands plans to send another forensic team to Ukraine later this year to investigate war crimes. The cabinet is also making available 65 million euros for aid and investment in the reconstruction of Ukraine.
Minister Kajsa Ollongren (Defence) and Liesje Schreinemacher (Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation) agreed on this during a joint visit to the Ukrainian city of Kiev.
They also visited the suburbs of Irpin and Bucha, where they saw the devastation wrought by the Russian army earlier this year. Minister Ollongren also visited Hostomel airport, near Kiev, where there was heavy fighting at the beginning of this year. “We all know the images from TV, but when you stand here yourself among all those destroyed houses, it is heartbreaking to see.”
Ollongren and Schreinemacher promised that our country will continue to support them. Meanwhile, 210 million euros in military equipment, weapons and ammunition has been donated. The armed forces want to continue to do this in the future, but provide as little detail as possible in order to make the Russians none the wiser.
Dutch soldiers will also more often help with training Ukrainian armed forces. At the end of last week, ninety trainers left for the United Kingdom, where the training sessions are given. Our country also wants to provide training to the Ukrainian explosive ordnance disposal service and it is being considered whether a forensic team can go to the country for the second time to collect evidence of war crimes.
Clearing mine and other explosive remnants of war
The European Union is currently developing a plan to help train new recruits in neighboring countries around Ukraine. “The Ukrainians understand very well that sending untrained people to the front is not so smart. They must give people proper training and equipment. In the country itself, the provision of this type of training is too limited. There is a chance that training complexes will be attacked. That’s why we want to help them,” says Ollongren.
Minister Schreinemacher promised 65 million euros for aid and investments in Ukraine. For example, money goes to projects to clear mines and other explosive remnants of war and 1 million euros is available for the first design plans for the reconstruction of Kherson, Odesa and Mykolaiv.
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