News item | 02-03-2026 | 10:11
Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius (Defense) has been to Ukraine. It was her first working visit for Defense. She visited the country together with her colleague from Foreign Affairs, Tom Berendsen. In Kyiv she spoke with President Volodymyr Zelensky and her Ukrainian colleague Mykhailo Fedorov. The minister then visited Poland Air and Missile Defense Task Force. Within this, approximately 230 Dutch soldiers are currently defending NATO airspace on the eastern flank, including with Patriot air defense systems.
Yeşilgöz-Zegerius and Berendsen promised in Kyiv that the Netherlands will continue to support Ukraine. Furthermore, cooperation with partners and strategic developments in Ukraine were topics of discussion.
Long lasting peace
She also made no mistake about it during a press moment in the Ukrainian capital: “The Netherlands continues to play a leading role in providing support. We remain fully committed to long-term peace, which is essential for the security of all of us.” The collaboration also goes in the other direction. The Netherlands can learn a lot from the military innovations and experiences that Ukrainians gain on the modern battlefield.
Troop visit
In Poland the minister joined the Air and Missile Defense Task Force informing about the air defense work to keep Russian aggression at bay. Its main task is to protect a logistics hub for aid to Ukraine.
Yeşilgöz-Zegerius wanted to visit troops as soon as possible after taking office. She praised the Dutch soldiers in Poland for their efforts here. “It is no small matter what you are here for and what you do,” she said to the troops. “It’s a shame that not every Dutch person can see this, because your work here is extremely important. You give substance to what Defense stands for. Thank you for your efforts.”
