In Odesa, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Caspar Veldkamp and Dutch Minister of Defense Ruben Brekelmans.
The Head of State noted that the newly appointed officials made their first foreign visit to Ukraine and thanked the Netherlands for supporting our country since the beginning of the full-scale Russian aggression.
"The Netherlands has opened very important pages in defending our lives. This includes strengthening air defense and providing F-16 aircraft. I had a very warm phone call with the new Prime Minister of the Netherlands. I think we will continue our dialogue during the NATO Summit," the Head of State remarked.
The President spoke about the shelling of civilian and critical infrastructure in Odesa by Russia, resulting in loss of life, and emphasized the importance of strengthening Ukraine's air defense.
The Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs noted that the visit to Odesa demonstrates the unwavering support of Ukraine by his country's government.
"I want to assure you that our continued political, economic, and military support for Ukraine will persist," emphasized Caspar Veldkamp.
The Dutch Minister of Defense highlighted the importance of military support for our country, particularly in the supply of F-16 aircraft.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine is awaiting the arrival of Dutch F-16 fighter jets, which will help secure Ukrainian airspace and prevent Russian attacks on our cities and communities.
The President and the ministers also listened to a report from Commander of the Ukrainian Navy Oleksiy Neizhpapa about the operational situation in the Black Sea.
