Minister of Defense of the Netherlands visits Odesa

Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans visited Odesa region during his working visit to Ukraine.

This was announced by the head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, Oleh Kiper.

The Minister was briefed on the security situation in the region. He discussed the consequences of the enemy's constant shelling of civilian and critical infrastructure, the energy situation and the region's preparation for winter. In his turn, the minister guaranteed that his country would continue to help Ukraine.

Ruben Brekelmans has been Minister of Defense of the Netherlands since July 2, 2024. From 2021 to July 2, 2024, he was a member of the House of Representatives of the General States of the Netherlands. Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, the Netherlands has provided our country with $9 billion in assistance.

In April, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Odesa and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which led to street closures in the city. The police apologized for the temporary inconvenience on Odesa's roads due to the visit of the international delegation. The media were also selectively invited to cover the visit, but the principle of selection remained unknown.

International delegations have been visiting Odesa throughout the war. For example, a meeting of the Nordic-Baltic Eight took place in Odesa on October 16, 2024, and was attended by representatives of the foreign ministries of the eight countries that make up the union. The ministers visited a military hospital, where they were told what the institution needed from its partners.

In August of the same year, U.S. congressmen visited Odesa to personally assess the situation on the ground and familiarize themselves with the work of the ports under martial law.

Кирило Бойко