Netherlands to give Ukraine EUR 65M for reconstruction

The Dutch Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Liesje Schreinemacher, said this at a meeting with journalists in Kyiv, Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"The Netherlands will allocate 65 million euros for aid and investment in Ukraine," Schreinemacher said.

The package will include co-financing efforts by Dutch companies to rebuild infrastructure, such as bridges, dams and hospitals, in war-torn regions of Ukraine, she said. The funds will also be used to support Ukrainian small and medium-sized businesses.

The minister said the Netherlands would provide EUR 1 million for the development of priority reconstruction projects in Kherson, Odesa and Mykolaiv. The Association of Netherlands Municipalities is also ready to provide support to Ukrainian partners, which will help attract Dutch specialists to help develop and implement such plans.

In addition, the Dutch government plans to allocate EUR 10 million for demining and destruction of explosive items in the territories where hostilities took place.

"Demining is vitally important. Only after the explosives have been neutralized, people will be able to safely return to their homes and begin work to restore households and businesses," Schreinemacher said.

The Netherlands will also provide EUR 2.5 million to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to support macroeconomic reforms, public administration and ensure the rule of law in Ukraine, and EUR 2 million to the United Nations Population Fund to provide psychosocial support to victims of sexual and gender-based violence in Ukraine.

Schreinemacher and Minister of Defense of the Netherlands Kajsa Ollongren are on a joint visit to Kyiv.