THE HAGUE, October 6. /TASS/. Military assistance to Ukraine has significant implications for the combat readiness of the Dutch army and complicates the implementation of NATO's military development goals, the Defense Ministry told parliament in a letter available to TASS.

It says that military assistance to Kiev has a "displacing effect" on the combat readiness of the Dutch army and the fulfillment of NATO goals. The Defense Ministry assesses such consequences as "significant but acceptable." The ministry did not disclose which of the alliance's goals were delayed or hampered by support to Kiev, or the state of combat readiness of the army.

According to the ministry's forecast, the consequences of assistance to Ukraine will continue to affect the Dutch army in 2027. Supplies from its own reserves have already been minimized: the bulk of the assistance is provided by purchases on the defense market. The Defense Ministry intends to "replenish or replace the property previously transferred to Kiev as needed."

When asked about the criteria for considering the consequences "acceptable," the Defense Ministry said there was no separate methodology for such an assessment. Decisions are made based on "a comprehensive management assessment of the impact" of assistance to Kiev on the combat readiness of the national armed forces and compliance with NATO requirements. The ministry also said that it "constantly compares" Kiev's needs with the need to train its own military personnel.

To cushion the consequences, the ministry intends to accelerate the procurement of replacement equipment and increase the staffing capabilities of units responsible for the acquisition of weapons and the implementation of projects. The draft 2027 budget provides for 500 million euros out of 3.1 billion euros of expenditures related to military assistance to Ukraine to replace property already transferred from its own reserves. Another 2.6 billion euros are intended for financial assistance to Kiev.

On January 30, the leaders of the political forces part of the new ruling coalition of the Netherlands - the left-liberal Democrats 66 party, the Christian Democrats and the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy - presented a coalition agreement. It says that the government plans to disburse 3 billion euros annually to support Ukraine over the next three years, and also seeks to increase military spending to the NATO target of 3.5%. Spending on social benefits, healthcare support, and care for the elderly is to be reduced.