Mark Rutte after the Council of Ministers meeting on 21 Jan. 2022 - Credit: RVD / Minister-President / Twitter - License: All Rights Reserved
The German government has given the Netherlands permission to send 400 anti-tank rocket launchers produced in Germany to Ukraine, news agency DPA reported based on information from government sources on Saturday. So far, Germany has refused to export deadly weaponry to Ukraine on principle, which the country has been requesting for months.
Less than 30 minutes after the DPA report was published, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte sent a message on Twitter saying he spoke over the phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday. Rutte said he told the Ukrainian leader that the Netherlands “would deliver additional military goods for self-defence against Russian aggression.” This new arms package is “in addition to the 200 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles already on the way.”
Neither the Ministry of Defense nor the Cabinet’s press office would reveal more details about the additional military material which Rutte referenced.
Over a week ago, the Cabinet decided to supply a hundred sniper rifles and ammunition to Ukraine. The Netherlands is also providing helmets, flak vests and radar systems. Some of that was dispatched Friday or Saturday, but the Netherlands is facing "logistical challenges", the Cabinet said on Saturday. The rest of the material will be "shipped as soon as possible.”
Germany has so far only promised 5,000 helmets to Kyiv. They were handed over to the Ukrainian army on Saturday. The country also approved the delivery of fourteen heavily-armored vehicles to Ukraine. These are ideally suited to evacuate people. It has also promised to deliver 10,000 tons of fuel via Poland. More support is still being discussed.
"After Russia's shameless attack, Ukraine must be able to defend itself," said Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Deputy Chancellor Robert Habeck. The country “has the absolute right to self-defense. The federal government is therefore also supporting Ukraine with material that is urgently needed for the equipment."
Rutte also spoke on Saturday with French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and the President of the European Council, Charles Michel. "We stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine at this dark time." Rutte writes.
Netherlands will send 400 anti-tank rockets to Ukraine; Could send Patriot missiles to Slovakia
The Netherlands is going to send fifty rocket launchers with four hundred German-made rockets-propelled grenades to Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense confirmed. The Netherlands was required to obtain Germany's permission for this, because a German export license is obligated even after purchasing...
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