Dutch defense minister warns: Ukraine is losing the war
The Dutch Minister of Defense, Ruben Brekelmans, expressed a pessimistic view regarding the situation in Ukraine in the ongoing war with Russia. In his opinion, Russia currently holds the upper hand, and "you could even say that Ukraine is losing the war." He shared this perspective during a debate in the Dutch parliament.
The minister, quoted by the ANP agency, noted that Russians are occupying increasing areas of Ukrainian territory, and the country's energy infrastructure is regularly attacked with missiles and drones. "And Russia’s military power is increasing," he added.
Brekelmans believes that a cease-fire or peace agreement will not eliminate the threat from Russia, as the Kremlin may then shift its focus to the Baltic states.
"Patriot missiles simply do not exist"
The opposition in parliament, responding to these comments, questioned why the government in The Hague is not increasing investments in aid for Ukraine, given Brekelmans's skepticism about the current situation. According to ANP, the opposition believes that more support is needed at this critical moment.
The minister replied that increasing the supply of weapons is challenging due to high international demand. "Patriot missiles simply do not exist," he said.
He also added that the government is investing directly in the Ukrainian defense industry, supporting, among other things, the capability to produce advanced drones. For this purpose, he announced a commitment of 425 million dollars. However, according to opposition parties, this amount is insufficient.
