Bu Lais Morais
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said he would lay out the need to defend Ukraine in the war with Russia on Tuesday (9) when he meets President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), who has been critical of sending armaments to the Ukrainians.
“We need to help Ukraine in this fight,” Rutte said at a press conference on the first day of his visit to Brazil.
Rutte cited that he will explain to Lula why the issue of supporting Ukraine is “existential” for the Netherlands, Europe, and beyond since the Russian invasion has put Western values at risk.
“If Putin is successful in Ukraine, and I don’t think he will be, it won’t end there. People are worried about their security in Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, and in Europe,” Rutte said.
Lula, who has been trying to encourage countries not involved in the conflict to form a group to push for peace talks, said the supply of arms to Ukraine was encouraging war.
The US government accused the Brazilian president of “parroting” Russian and Chinese propaganda.
The Dutch government is evaluating the donation of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine with its European partners.
“We are discussing intensively with Denmark, the UK, some other parties in Europe and the US about the F-16s,” Rutte explained.
But first, an agreement between all partners is needed, as they did in the past before supplying Panzer shells and Leopard tanks to Ukraine, the Dutch leader continued.
Rutte is on a three-day visit with a business delegation for talks on trade and cooperation for sustainable agriculture and energy transition, especially for hydrogen.
With information from Reuters
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