Dutch minister says she hopes aid to Ukraine will continue despite election outcome

FILE PHOTO: Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren attends a summit on Gotland with heads of state and government on defense and security policy issues in Visby, Sweden, October 13, 2023. Anders Wiklund/TT News Agency/via REUTERS/File Photo

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren said on Friday she hoped the country's military support to Ukraine would continue even under a new government led by anti-EU populist Geert Wilders, who has said the Dutch should stop providing Kyiv with arms.

Wilders, whose far-right Freedom Party (PVV) was the clear winner of national elections this week, has called for the withdrawal of support, saying the Netherlands needs the weapons it gives to Ukraine to be able to defend itself.