Netherlands to invest €500 million in drone production in Ukraine

The Dutch government is allocating €500 million to a large-scale project to develop and produce drones in Ukraine. This will be part of a support program that also includes €2 billion for air defense, ammunition and naval equipment.

According to the Dutch Ministry of Defense, these funds will be directed to the Drone Line initiative, which aims to establish the production of unmanned systems in Ukraine. This investment will strengthen the country’s defense capabilities and contribute to the development of the Ukrainian military-industrial sector.

The announcement of the financial assistance was made by Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans during a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov. He emphasized that the Netherlands seeks to support Ukraine both on the battlefield and in the long term. “These drones will change the situation on the front and help save lives. Ukraine needed such support, and we are providing it,” Brekelmans said.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, in turn, noted that the key issues of the negotiations were strengthening air and sea security, as well as cooperation in defense production. He emphasized that the Netherlands has been providing significant support to Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale war, helping both financially and with military equipment.

The Netherlands is an active participant in the coalition for the development of drone technologies. The total amount of investment in the production, purchase and use of drones for Ukraine has already exceeded 1 billion euros. These projects are of not only military, but also strategic importance for ensuring the country’s defense independence.

In addition, the Dutch investment company NUNC Capital announced the creation of a new venture fund, which plans to invest 20 million euros in the development of advanced defense technologies in Ukraine. This indicates the Netherlands' long-term plans to support the Ukrainian defense industry and strengthen the country's military capabilities.