Netherlands to spend almost $300m on making drones for Ukraine

The Netherlands has announced it will spend €248 million (about $293 million) on producing drones for Ukraine, marking one of the latest efforts by European allies to strengthen Kyiv’s defence capabilities against Russia’s ongoing invasion.

Dutch Defence Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius said drones play a critical role on the modern battlefield and that cooperation with Ukraine would benefit both countries. The drones will be manufactured in both the Netherlands and Ukraine , reflecting growing defence collaboration between the two nations.

The announcement came after a meeting of NATO defence ministers and members of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Berlin, where allies reaffirmed their support for Kyiv. NATO countries have already delivered more than $4.5 billion in military equipment to Ukraine, according to data from the U.S. ambassador to NATO.

The Dutch pledge comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy intensifies diplomatic efforts across Europe to secure additional weapons and financial support. Germany and Ukraine recently agreed on a €4-billion defence package , while Norway has pledged €9 billion in assistance . Britain has also announced plans to send 120,000 drones to Ukraine this year , its largest such delivery so far.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Italy is interested in expanding joint defence production with Ukraine , particularly in the drone sector, where Kyiv has developed significant battlefield expertise during the war.

Ukraine is also urging European partners to contribute more to a fund that allows Kyiv to purchase American-made weapons such as the Patriot air defence system to intercept Russian missiles.

Russia has strongly criticised the growing European involvement. The Russian Defence Ministry published a list of companies it claims are involved in producing drones or components for Ukraine in countries including the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland and the Czech Republic , as well as suppliers in Spain, Italy, Israel and Turkey .

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev warned the sites could be viewed as potential targets for Russian forces , escalating tensions as the war continues.