The entire House of Representatives gave VolodyMyr Zelensky a standing ovation-albeit that perhaps a little less hard was applauded by the PVV-MALDELEP. But even PVV leader Geert Wilders, who has criticized the president several times, beat a flat hand on a bench.
During the long wait for the Ukrainian president, the tension in the plenary room, where many members of the Senate had also found a place, was slowly sustained. The inserted meeting with King Willem-Alexander had ended, told Chamber President Martin Bosma. Once the Ukrainian president arrived in the temporary room building, he still had to write his speech.
Once Zelensky was set off, he – dressed in black and obviously tired – again demonstrated a rhetorical talent. “Russia is stronger than each of us on his own,” he said, “but weaker than all of us together.”
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Trump
The speech to the collected Senate and Lower House in the margin of the NATO summit in The Hague was a plaster on the wound. “Last year at the NATO summit in Washington, Zensky was still the main guest and was treated as an upcoming ally,” says foreign spokesperson Jan Paternotte (D66). This time the Ukrainian president – on orders of US President Donald Trump – is carefully excluded from the official program.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Zensky can only speak in the margin with European government leaders. “Defining” for the Ukrainian population, says Paternotte: “Last night the country was attacked again, with about a hundred drones. In the meantime, the Ukrainian head of government is put in the waiting room to please Trump.”
You are part of the family
To give the visit any cachet, outgoing Prime Minister Dick Schoof Zelensky received on the Catshuis. In addition, he announced a new Dutch support package of 175 million euros for radar systems with which drones can be detected. Around the top contracts were also signed for the production of drones worth 500 million. “You are part of the family,” said Schoof to the Ukrainian president.
To emphasize that, Zensky was also allowed to join the Royal Confectionery in Palace Huis ten Bosch on Tuesday evening with all government leaders – including Trump.
Enthusiastic
Zensky was invited by the Foreign Affairs Chamber Committee to speech in the Lower House. Not all groups thought that was a good idea. As a host of the NATO summit, the Netherlands had fitted a more neutral role, says BBB’er and also room committee member Henk Vermeer. “There are countries that don’t want Ukraine to come, and you put it in a difficult position.”
However, the majority of the committee was enthusiastic. “It is good that we as a parliament show who Zensky is,” says Derk Boswijk (CDA), “namely: the Winston Churchill of our time.”
Since the re -election of Donald Trump in 2024, the Ukrainian Churchill has been experienced in all respects Darkest Houras the English Prime Minister sometimes described a low point during the Second World War. While Russian troops are steadily advancing in Eastern Ukraine, the “thankless” Zensky in the White House was wiped out by Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Although the American weapons are still streaming to Ukraine, Washington has not promised any new aid package since Trumps. In his attempts to make Russia and Ukraine make peace, Trump in particular was put under pressure and even openly accused of starting the war.
His country was attacked last night by Russian drones, but today Zensky is put in the waiting room to please Trump
Kyiv can use a support in the back. During his press conference, NATO-Secretary-General Mark Rutte emphasized-probably to Trump’s displeasure-that European support for Ukraine is going. He also called Russia the biggest threat to Europe.
In his speech, Zensky used that argument skilled, in which he also referred to the hybrid warfare that European countries are already dealing with – such as cyber attacks or the damage of cables in the sea. In addition, the Ukrainian president convened the war in Iran with the fight against Russia and the interests of the West. “In the month of June alone, Russia launched 2,743 Shahed drones. Russia could never have done that without the ties with the Iranian regime. And we in Ukraine could not have been able to bring most of these drones without your solidarity and the support of our partners.”
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‘Impressive’
Iran and Russia as one common enemy: it was an argument that could count on the approval of Vermeer, who afterwards spoke of a “realistic view” on the world of Zensky. The performance of the president – accompanied by a top -heavy delegation with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andri Sybiha and Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov – was “impressive,” said Vermeer. “You will be confronted with a completely different reality, that of daily threat. Also because of the constant sound of helicopters above the plenary room.”
When Zensky was pronounced and the MPs were folded out, Jesse Klaver (GroenLinks-PvdA) took the floor on behalf of the foreign committee. “Mr. Presidentour invitation to you today, our many visits to your country in recent years and the repeated decisions of this parliament to continue the financial and military support for Ukraine, shows the use of this parliament for the defense of Ukraine against Russian aggression. Slava Ukraini (Glory of Ukraine). ”
“Herojam Slava!(Glorie to the Helden) replied the Ukrainian delegation in box K.