Address by the President to the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Netherlands Parliament

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Dear President of the House,

Madam President of the Senate,

Esteemed Members of Parliament,

Ladies and Gentlemen!

First of all, I want to tell you that I'm honored to greet you all and truly grateful for today's opportunity to address the Parliament of the Netherlands - and at such a meaningful moment.

We are now in the midst of the most intense and focused negotiations for peace since the beginning of this war - for true, lasting peace.

We are not talking about a pause or a temporary, uncertain solution.

We are working closely with partners to finally end this Russian war against Ukraine - and, through Ukraine, against the very essence of life in Europe.

That's why, now, we need the same strong political support that we had at the beginning of this war.

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Back then, the future was shaped by our joint efforts in defence. Today, the future depends on our shared political positions and political decisions - the ones needed to root out every cause of this war.

The current Russian leader - and, after him, all of his

propagandists - often use the term "root causes of the war". As if there is something inevitable that forces Russia to keep fighting. And as if the reasons for Russia's wars were not inside Russia, and not part of its own nature, but instead located somewhere outside - somewhere in Ukraine, in Europe, in NATO, or elsewhere.

They always blame others and always try to explain their wars through someone else's actions. As if the reason for their aggression is never in Moscow but always in their neighbors.

Let's look at Russia's history since 1991 - from then until today.

Russia has changed - it has been poor and rich, it has gone from oligarchy to dictatorship, but one thing has remained the same - it keeps bringing war and hatred.

From Chechnya to the Balkans, from Moldova to Syria, from countries in Central Africa to Ukraine - Russia chooses conflict over peace. And Russians always say - they are somehow not guilty. Somehow. And someone else, not Russia, is always expected to make concessions so that Russia might stop spreading bloodshed. There's always something they claim must be given up - so they can stop killing.

Now, in Russia's war against us, our people, our country, this logic has reached its largest and most dangerous scale.

Russia has invaded our home, it is destroying our cities, our villages, killing Ukrainians, our children - and at the same time demanding that we give up parts of our land they haven't even managed to conquer.

Russia keeps nearly a million-strong occupation force on our territory, and yet it demands that Ukraine accept limits - on our right to join alliances, and on our sovereignty.

Russia strikes our infrastructure, our cities and villages, our energy - and blame us in it, and when we strike back, they cry out - as if, only they have the right to strike and others must stay silent and suffer…

That is Russia.

And the truth is - we are dealing with a chronic offender.

At the root of all the problems - and even of every Russian strike - is this:

Russia behaves like a career criminal who's convinced he will never be caught.

Russia feels unsafe when its neighbors are safe. It feels bad when their neighbors are doing well.

Russia is a state that fundamentally rejects the idea of everyone - including itself - playing by the same rules.

And that's exactly where the real path to peace begins.

It's not enough to force Russia into a deal. It's not enough to make it stop killing.

We must make Russia accept that there are rules in the world - and that it cannot deceive everyone. This is the path to lasting peace.

And I thank you, Netherlands, for standing with us on this path, and for supporting all the elements of a just end to this war - from stopping the killing to defending justice for Ukraine. It truly matters. And I'm sincerely grateful to you for that. Thank you!

Ladies and gentlemen,

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Together with partners, we are working not only to stop the

bloodshed, but to change the situation along Russia's borders - so that there is no opportunity to start another war.

We understand that criminals don't change in a day. That's why the talks these days are not only about a ceasefire, but about security guarantees.

This is not only about diplomacy. Not only about physical security…

It is also about making Russia finally learn to live by the rule of law.

And it will only work if there is true accountability - if the punishment for the aggressor becomes inevitable. Yes, it is not easy - but it is not as difficult as some may try to portray it.

We have already done a great job. Now we simply need to press forward - and bring the criminal to justice.

Last week, I visited one of our cities on the front line, our city of Kupyansk. It's a city in eastern Ukraine, and the front line is now very-very close to it.

Putin publicly lied - claiming that Russian forces had already taken the city. So I went to Kupyansk myself to show the world - Putin is lying. To show only one thing - this.

And we must keep exposing every single Russian falsehood because truth restores justice.

I will continue to destroy every Russian lie - on the frontline and around the world. And I urge you to support Ukraine in this effort. This is how it works - truth is the ground on which justice grows.

The same applies to the issue of damage caused by Russian aggression.

Right now, European leaders have the decision on the table regarding frozen Russian assets. Most of these assets are located in Europe. These Russian assets can and must be fully used to defend against Russia's own aggression. The aggressor must pay.

This is also about restoring justice - and in a way that Russia will truly feel.

Putin does not believe in people. He believes only in power and in money.

He spends around 30,000 soldiers' lives on the front every month. Not wounded - 30,000 killed each month. There was a month when 25,000 Russians were killed. Another month - 31,000. We have drone footage confirming these deaths.

Russian assaults are always insanely bloody - but Putin doesn't care.

Russians don't count their dead. But they do count every dollar and every euro they lose.

That is why a strong decision on Russian money is needed. These funds must work to defend against Russia. I urge you to support this.

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Each day now, Ukrainians are working to restore electricity, heating, and water after Russian missile and drone attacks. Russia is deliberately targeting our infrastructure. They know that in our region, the winter cold can become one of the most dangerous weapons. They try to use it against Ukrainians, against ordinary people, against normal life.

And that's why it's so important not to relax or rely on diplomacy alone.

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We must continue to strengthen our air defence. We must support our ability to remain resilient under aggression.

Every night, Ukrainian parents hold their children in basements and shelters - every night - hoping that our air defence will hold. Strengthening Ukraine's air defence and energy resilience is not just military support - it is a protection of life, a chance for the future.

We value, really value everything the Netherlands has already provided - from Patriot systems and F-16 aircraft to artillery and drones. Thank you for that.

The Netherlands' leadership in the PURL initiative is especially meaningful. These contributions help protect civilians and strengthen the air shield over Ukraine - and over Europe.

And we also welcome the steps toward joint drone production, which show that our cooperation is becoming deeper and more strategic.

I am grateful to you for your decision to support us next year. 3.5 billion in support for Ukraine in 2026, and the additional 2 billion in defence assistance adopted in December, are powerful expressions of solidarity. We truly value this. Thank you so much!

And every such act of solidarity proves one thing clearly - Russia's war will not become the norm - not now, not in the future.

As long as you stand with us, and as long as our other partners stand with us - Russia stands alone with its war.

This Sunday and Monday in Berlin we held intensive, really intensive talks with President Trump's team - with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, and other members of the team.

We are working in great detail on documents that could stop the war and guarantee security. This is very important. Every single detail matters. Why? Because not a single detail must become a reward for Russia's aggression. If the aggressor receives a reward, he starts to believe that war pays off. That is why justice must be central to ending this war.

Please support this approach - justice must not be pushed to the margins of diplomacy.

There was too little justice for Moldova, it's true, too little, and for Syria, and for many other countries, those wars dragged on, and today the problems are so difficult to solve. We must show - through Ukraine - that Europe and the United States of America are capable of delivering real results in securing peace.

And one more point.

In this war, each of us carries something that we cannot forgive. Many Ukrainian families have lost loved ones. Russia has completely destroyed dozens of our cities, hundreds of villages. Our people have suffered many humiliations. Thousands of Ukrainians have suffered through brutal captivity…

During this war, there is hardly a crime against humanity that Russia has not committed.

Even the Netherlands, sadly, knows all too well that these are not just words. We do remember MH17 - a terrible act of Russian murder, followed by shameful lies. That cannot simply be forgotten. And the people will not forget.

And when the guns stay silent, when the drones stop killing - the law must still speak.

Russian "root causes" should be returned to Russia. It cannot be that war criminals travel freely across Europe or the world, as if they were tourists. It cannot be that those who killed are suddenly treated as "respectable partners".

That is why sanctions matter.

And that is why conventions and mechanisms of international justice exist - and must work.

Alongside diplomacy, defence support for Ukraine, and support for our resilience, I ask you - please continue supporting efforts to ensure legal accountability for the aggressor.

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So no matter how difficult it may be, and no matter how long it takes - Russian war criminals must be held accountable.

And the Russian state must be held responsible for the crime of aggression.

The Netherlands is one of the key drivers behind the creation of a Tribunal for the crime of aggression and real accountability for war criminals. I believe you understand every emotion we have when it comes to justice, and thank you for that.

With partners like you, and with approaches like yours, with the principled stance you continue to show, we can achieve a truly lasting peace. Please use your influence to help make it happen.

Thank you very much, Netherlands!

Thank you for the invitation, dear ladies and gentlemen!

And I truly hope that the next time I address your Parliament, it will be with gratitude for a peace that has been achieved.

Thank you!

Glory to Ukraine!

ph	Working Visit of the President of Ukraine to the Netherlands 16 December 2025 - 13:16