The Netherlands plans to continue training Ukrainian troops after a peace deal is secured in Ukraine, De Telegraaf newspaper reported on Thursday, citing Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans.
“Even after a ceasefire is reached, soldiers will continue to be recruited and trained. And even after a ceasefire, deterrence will remain extremely important,” Brekelmans was quoted as saying.
The Dutch defense chief met with Dutch instructors and their Ukrainian trainees in Germany on Wednesday. The location where Ukrainians are being trained to operate German-made Leopard tanks is kept secret to prevent it from becoming a target for alleged saboteurs.
Brekelmans said on social media that the EU training mission in Germany had trained 20,000 Ukrainians. Most of them are reportedly men in their 40s who come from different backgrounds, ranging from farmers to university graduates.
Since the beginning of Russia’s special military operation, the Netherlands has supplied Ukraine with 60 Soviet T-72 tanks, over 200 YPR infantry fighting vehicles, around 100 Leopard 1 tanks, which it has mustered together with Denmark and Germany, 14 refurbished Leopard 2 tanks in cooperation with Denmark, eight PzH2000 self-propelled howitzers, two US-made Patriot air defense systems, more than 500 drones, as well as missiles, mortars, rifles, machine guns, and various types of ammunition.
