The Netherlands’ position

On 24 February, Russian armed forces invaded Ukraine. This followed President Putin’s announcement of a ‘special military operation’ in the Donbas region.

The Netherlands wants the following:

It must be made clear that Russia’s aggression is unacceptable and that it will have severe consequences for Russia. The Netherlands condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in the strongest possible terms.
A massive package of EU sanctions must be imposed on Russia. The Netherlands wants heavy sanctions to be imposed on Russia. It is important for the EU member states to reach a consensus on this. Sanctions against Russia will also affect the Dutch economy. That is inevitable with an open economy like ours. See information about sanctions against Russia (in Dutch).
The government is consulting closely with various partners, including the United States, the United Kingdom and within the European Union and NATO.
To provide support to Ukraine. The government is providing humanitarian, economic and military support to Ukraine.

The Netherlands’ role in this situation

As a member of NATO, the EU and the Organization for Security and Co operation in Europe (OSCE), the Netherlands is in close consultation with other countries on this situation. In those talks, the Netherlands underscores the importance of diplomacy and dialogue.

The Netherlands supports EU sanctions against Russia following Russia’s attack on Ukraine. The Netherlands is also providing military goods to Ukraine.

In addition, the Netherlands contributes to NATO’s deterrence and defence posture. For instance, at NATO’s request the Netherlands is currently deploying fighter aircraft for air policing tasks over NATO territory in eastern Europe.

For further details of the Netherlands’ efforts to strengthen NATO, see the letter to Parliament on recent developments related to the build-up of Russian troops on the Ukrainian border (3 February).

Details of the Netherlands’ military contribution to NATO can be found on the Ministry of Defence website.

Frequently asked questions about the situation in Russia and Ukraine

Over the past several months, the government has focused on de escalation and dialogue and has called on Russia to jointly seek a diplomatic route out of this crisis. This has not succeeded.
Ukraine is not a NATO Ally. That means that no troops will be sent to Ukraine for combat operations. However, the Netherlands is providing military goods to Ukraine.

On 24 February 2022, Russian armed forces invaded Ukraine. This followed President Putin’s announcement of a ‘special military operation’ in the Donbas region. There are new developments all the time. Russia is attacking a great many targets in Ukraine and Russian troops have crossed the border with Ukraine at multiple locations.

The attack followed Russia’s recognition on 21 February 2022 of the independence of the two self-proclaimed ‘People’s Republics’ of Donetsk and Luhansk in Ukraine. At the same time, a decree was signed enabling Russia to provide military support. With all these actions Russia is violating Ukraine’s borders, international law and the Minsk agreements.

Until 1991, Ukraine and Russia were both part of the Soviet Union. In that year, the leaders of Belarus, Ukraine and Russia together decided to dissolve the Soviet Union. Ukraine and Russia thus became independent countries.

As Russia and Ukraine had both been part of the Soviet Union, both countries had nuclear weapons. In 1994 it was agreed that Ukraine would turn its nuclear weapons over to Russia, in return for security guarantees from Russia and other countries. In 2014, after mass protests, a new government took office in Ukraine. Shortly after, Russia annexed Crimea. Russia has also supported separatists in eastern Ukraine (Donetsk and Luhansk) since 2014.

More and more Ukrainians want Ukraine to become a member of NATO and the EU. Russia does not agree with this and has demanded that Ukraine never be allowed to join either of these organisations. In 2014 Ukraine and the EU concluded an association agreement, enabling closer cooperation in many areas. This does not mean that Ukraine will become a member of the EU.

The Netherlands’ position

The Netherlands’ role in this situation

Frequently asked questions about the situation in Russia and Ukraine

Is the Netherlands going to send troops to Ukraine?

What is happening in Russia and Ukraine?

How did the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine arise?