Dutch Minister Calls Russia ‘The Enemy’; Russia Demands Clarification

Dutch Minister of Defence Dilan Yeşilgöz called Russia “the enemy” during a defense budget debate in the Dutch parliament on Oct. 8. European governments have usually described Russia as a “threat” or “the aggressor”. Yeşilgöz said Russia is no longer the aggressor and that she will rarely use that euphemism again. She said the Netherlands should no longer be naive, and that “Russia is our enemy.” She added: “And no, that does not mean we are at war, but a carefree peace is also a long way off.”JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. She pointed to a rising pattern of Russian threats, including strikes in Ukraine the previous day, a drone attack on two ships in the Black Sea, explosive drones around Leipzig airport, an attack on a train near the Polish-Ukrainian border, and flares fired at a Danish helicopter. In the Netherlands, cameras have been hacked, possibly to map military routes. Her words drew an online response from the Russian embassy. In a statement on X, the embassy asked the Dutch government either to confirm her words or to distance itself from them, and whether this was an official declaration of direct military confrontation. Statement from the Russian Embassy in the Netherlands. (Source: X) Other Topics of Interest Yabloko Leader Fined Over Anti-War Slogans on Duma Ballots Nikolai Rybakov was fined for disorderly conduct after writing peace slogans on ballots in an election marred by bans and international censure. To the Dutch broadcaster NOS, Yeşilgöz said: “It is very clear that Russia is presenting itself as the enemy. That does not mean we are at war, or that we are suddenly going to take an entirely different approach.” Michiel Hilgeman is a Netherlands based political commentator. He analyzes the national political developments in European countries and shifts in the geopolitical landscape. He studied Policy, Communication and Organization in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and got a Master’s Degree in 2011. He actively travels to several countries in Europe, including Ukraine.