Ukraine and the Netherlands explore cooperation in drone capabilities, air defense, and joint defense production projects

Deputy Ministers of Defence, Lieutenant General Mykola Shevtsov and Kateryna Chernohorenko, held talks in Kyiv with a military delegation from the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The Dutch delegation was led by Vice Admiral Jan Willem Hartman, Commander Materiel and IT Command, and the Netherlands' National Armaments Director.

During the meeting, the parties discussed key areas of bilateral defense cooperation.

The talks' primary focus was drone production, including financing models, the establishment of joint ventures, and technology exchange.

Lieutenant General Mykola Shevtsov emphasized the importance of a balanced approach to scaling up drone production by partners within the Drone Coalition, considering the adversary’s significant advancements in electronic warfare (EW) capabilities. He stressed that it is critical to test systems in combat conditions before serial production. In this context, he highlighted Ukraine’s readiness to offer its own battle-tested solutions as part of technology exchanges.

In turn, Deputy Minister of Defence Kateryna Chernohorenko thanked the Dutch side for their interest in the capabilities of the Delta combat system.

“We thank you for your request. We would like to continue this work at the operational level and provide test access. Our digital innovations since 2014 can be of significant value for our allies and partners,” said Kateryna Chernohorenko.

Furthermore, she noted that similar cooperation within the IT Coalition is also being initiated around the Avengers platform, which features AI capabilities to identify enemy targets.  

Another key topic of discussion included strengthening Ukraine’s air defense and naval capabilities, as well as the status of the F-16 multirole fighter aircraft transfers. 

During the meeting, Mykola Shevtsov emphasized that Ukraine highly appreciates the assistance of the Dutch government and people in the fight against russian aggression.

Vice Admiral Jan Willem Hartman, for his part, assured continued support for Ukraine from the Netherlands.

“Be assured that the Netherlands will continue to support you consistently. We clearly understand that your war is a war for Europe,” the Vice Admiral emphasized.