Rob Jetten, 38, has ruled out talks with Russia, saying there are "no indications" Moscow wants to end the war in Ukraine. His 79-page manifesto, Getting to Work, promises continued multi-year financial and military support for Kyiv and pushes for the use of frozen Russian assets. The programme also commits to codifying a 3.5% of GDP NATO defence-spending target and calls for greater European self-reliance. Jetten aims to form a cabinet by mid-February but will govern without an outright parliamentary majority.
Dutch PM-Elect Rob Jetten Rules Out Talks With Putin, Vows Firm Support for Ukraine
Jetten will be the youngest PM in Dutch history (Remko de Waal)(Remko de Waal/ANP/AFP)
Incoming Dutch prime minister Rob Jetten on Friday ruled out opening talks with Russia over the war in Ukraine, as he published a 79-page government programme reaffirming robust Dutch support for Kyiv.
Speaking to AFP after releasing his governing manifesto, the 38-year-old D66 leader said he would not engage with Moscow because there were currently "no indications" that Russia intends to end the conflict.
"And as long as the aggression continues, we will continue our support for the Ukrainian people," Jetten said.
The manifesto, titled "Getting to Work," was produced after weeks of tough negotiations with two coalition partners and pledges no easing of Dutch financial and military backing for Ukraine. It also calls for the Netherlands to press for the use of frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine’s recovery and defence needs.
Defence Spending and European Independence
The incoming administration committed to enshrining in Dutch law a NATO defence-spending target of 3.5% of GDP — a benchmark long advocated by Donald Trump. Asked about relations with the United States following an awkward spat between Washington and Europe over Greenland, Jetten urged greater European self-reliance.
"I'm a little bit worried that people in Europe are mainly complaining about what's happening in the US," he said. "We should be having a much stronger debate about what can Europe do for itself."
Coalition Outlook
Jetten will now set about forming a cabinet and aims to have ministers sworn in by mid-February. If successful, he would become the youngest leader of the EU's fifth-largest economy and the first openly gay person to hold the office.
Jetten steered D66 to a surprise election victory in October, narrowly outpacing the far-right Freedom Party led by Geert Wilders. The fractured Dutch political landscape means coalition bargaining is lengthy: Jetten has struck a deal with two centre-right partners but lacks a parliamentary majority, so his government will need support from other parties to pass major legislation.
Reporters: ric/phz; AFP contributed reporting.
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