If it depends on the VVD, the Netherlands will not send ground troops to Ukrainian territory. This would only happen in the event of an attack on a NATO member state, says VVD member of parliament Ruben Brekelmans.
‘If NATO is attacked, it is NATO territory at war, but that is exactly what we want to prevent. We want to provide maximum support to Ukraine, but at the same time prevent it from escalating into a conflict between NATO and Russia,’ says Brekelmans.
Counteroffensive
There seems to be no doubt of such a conflict for the time being, now that the Ukrainians themselves have launched the counter-offensive. Brekelmans follows closely and sees how the reports vary: “There are days when villages are liberated and territorial gains are achieved, but there are also reports that things are stalling. I think a first provisional conclusion is that it will be a very long battle.’
‘Ukraine will need long-term support from the West’
This fight also includes long-term support, Brekelmans believes. “Ukraine will need long-term support from the West no matter how the war develops. And, this is now the biggest discussion for the next few weeks due to the important NATO summit coming up, we need to define with the West what exactly this support means.’
F-16
The Netherlands is likely to supply F-16s to the Ukrainian military soon. Then, according to Brekelmans, our country will have exhausted the ‘list’ of weapon systems. ‘Ukraine itself has always asked for seven types of weapon systems. The only ones we’re still missing are the F-16s, so it’s more of a challenge to make sure there’s enough ammo, because so much is fired every day. It then becomes more of a large logistical operation.
Read the live blog about the war in Ukraine here
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
