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Russian Ambassador to the Netherlands Vladimir Tarabrin said bilateral relations between Moscow and The Hague have reached a historic low, according to remarks reported by Russian state news agency TASS. Speaking at an online briefing, Tarabrin described the current state of ties as "essentially frozen" and "likely at their worst point in the long history of our relations."

The ambassador's comments were reported by TASS in two separate dispatches from Moscow. In the first, Tarabrin focused on the Netherlands' continued financial and military support for Ukraine. In the second, he addressed the broader deterioration of diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries.

Coverage comparison

Both TASS articles draw exclusively on statements by Tarabrin, who was speaking at an online briefing. The first report centers on the Netherlands' stated intention to maintain its support for Ukraine and its "tough rhetoric" toward Russia, as characterized by the ambassador. The second broadens the focus to the overall state of bilateral relations, which Tarabrin described as being at their worst point in history.

No other sources or independent reports were included in the material provided. The reporting relies solely on Tarabrin's assessment and does not include reaction from Dutch officials.

Key claims

  • Relations between Russia and the Netherlands have reached a historic low and are effectively frozen, according to Tarabrin.
  • The Netherlands has contributed more than €14.3 billion in equipment and financial assistance to Ukraine's armed forces, the ambassador said.
  • The Dutch government has published a document outlining its proposals for the European Union's security strategy, which states that support for Ukraine should underpin European security, per Tarabrin.
  • The Netherlands is investing in the development of Ukraine's unmanned forces, including funding for drone development, the ambassador claimed.
  • Tarabrin asserted that Dutch authorities act "with little independence" and follow collective anti-Russian decisions from the EU and NATO.
  • The ambassador added that Dutch intelligence services label Russia as a threat to peace and stability in Europe.

Perspectives

Tarabrin claimed that the Netherlands' policy toward Russia is part of a broader Western consensus, stating that "the Dutch political establishment has de-facto reached a consensus on providing further support to Ukraine and taking a tough anti-Russian political course." He suggested that domestic political rivalry in the Netherlands is "often shaped as a competition of whose support for NATO is stronger and who is tougher on Russia."

According to the ambassador, the Dutch government is committed to sustaining and expanding its engagement, and he expressed skepticism that this approach will change in the near future. He also alleged that Dutch authorities act with little independence, consistently following collective decisions from Brussels and other Western capitals.

The ambassador's remarks underscore a deep divide in bilateral relations, which have deteriorated significantly since the start of the conflict in Ukraine. Tarabrin's comments were made at a time when the Netherlands has been among the most vocal supporters of Ukraine, both politically and militarily, a position that has strained its relations with Moscow.