Netherlands vows more arms for Ukraine, sanctions over Russian ‘referendums’

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte made the promise to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during phone talks between the two on Sept. 26, the two leaders reported via Twitter.

Rutte said his country would increase support for Ukraine.

"Just said this in a conversation with Volodymyr Zelenskyy,” the Dutch leader tweeted.

“(This is) because of the Russian mobilization and imitation of ‘referendums’. The protection of Europe plays a crucial role for our security,” Rutte added.

The Ukrainian leader wrote on Twitter that he had discussed with Rutte the situation at the front and further defense aid for Ukraine, as well as support for Ukrainian initiatives within the UN.

In his later evening address, Zelenskyy added that he and Rutte had also discussed the criminal mobilization that Russia is conducting, in particular in the occupied territories, as well as the sham referendums.

Read also: Seven key takeaway’s from Putin’s “partial mobilization”

From Sept. 23 to 27, Russia is trying to hold sham referendums in the occupied territories across several oblasts of Ukraine — Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson.

At the same time, Russia’s invasion forces do not fully control any of these regions.

Read also: Ukraine requests urgent UN Security Council meeting over sham referendums

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine