Reported by Göksu Başaran

Rob Jetten met with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, reaffirming the Netherlands’ continued political and moral support for Ukraine as the war with Russia continues.

In a message shared following the meeting, Jetten highlighted the resilience of the Ukrainian people and quoted Ukrainian poet Yaryna Chornohuz, describing her words as a powerful reflection of Ukraine’s strength and determination. In one of her poems, Chornohuz writes: “We never, never, never lose the faith in our beauty and strength in freedom, and thus, even left covered only with ashes, we don’t give up.”

According to Jetten, these words capture the spirit of a nation that continues to resist despite immense destruction and hardship. Standing alongside President Zelenskyy in Kyiv, the Dutch prime minister said the Netherlands has stood shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine for years and will continue to do so.

“Ukraine is not only fighting for its own freedom and security, but also for that of Europe and for our shared democratic values,” Jetten said. “Their struggle is also our struggle.”

He added that Ukraine therefore deserves the full support of the Netherlands and its European partners, reiterating The Hague’s commitment to supporting Ukraine in its fight for sovereignty and democratic stability.

Jetten concluded his message with the words “Slava Ukraini” — a phrase widely used to express solidarity with Ukraine.