Ihor Klymenko met with David Martijn van Weel, the Minister of Justice and Security of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
On May 08, David Martijn van Weel, the Minister of Justice and Security of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, arrived in Ukraine on an official visit. As a part of the visit, he had a working meeting with Ihor Klymenko, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
The delegation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands also included: Pieter Jaap Aalbersberg, National Coordinator for Security and Counter-Terrorism of the Ministry of Justice and Security, Alle Dorhout, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Ukraine, and others.
The meeting was held in the context of strengthening the implementation of the Security Agreement between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Ukraine, signed on March 01, 2024, by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, and Mark Rutte, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
During the negotiations, the parties discussed a wide range of security issues, including:
- Countering illicit arms trafficking;
- Documenting and investigating war crimes;
- Expanding DNA research capabilities in the context of identifying the deceased and investigating crimes;
- Protecting critical infrastructure;
- Strengthening cybersecurity and joint counteraction to cyber threats.
At the beginning of the negotiations, Ihor Klymenko, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, noted the continued support of Ukraine by the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the context of the armed aggression of the russian federation, including active participation in international initiatives, financial, military and humanitarian assistance.
“Since the beginning of the full-scale war, the Kingdom of the Netherlands has stood by our side, and our ministries have enjoyed strong cooperation. We have a lot of common European affairs ahead of us. However, first and foremost, we have to end the war. And your presence here is a testimony of steadfast support for Ukraine, a demonstration of solidarity and faith in our Victory”, – Ihor Klymenko said, addressing the partners.
For his part, the Minister of Justice and Security of the Netherlands expressed his readiness to further deepen cooperation, exchange of experience and strengthen institutional cooperation between the two countries.
“Early in the morning we were in Bucha and saw with our own eyes the horrific atrocities committed by the russian army on the territory of Ukraine. We clearly understand the urgency of supporting you - you are fighting for freedom and common European values. And we will be with you for as long as it takes. My priority is resilience, and I am interested in a strong engagement with you. We have a lot to learn from you, given your tragic experience of war”, – said David Martijn van Weel.
Ihor Klymenko, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, told the partners that it was in Bucha that approaches to documenting war crimes were developed. Since 2023, the National Police of Ukraine has set up a headquarters there. During this time, the police have managed to identify more than 2,500 russian servicemen allegedly involved in the killings of civilians in Bucha.
In total, investigators of the National Police of Ukraine have opened more than 152,000 criminal proceedings into crimes committed by the russian army on the territory of Ukraine.
"We are grateful for the systematic training of investigative units of the National Police of Ukraine on documenting war crimes. We hope to pursue this important initiative and expand its thematic areas", – added the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
The parties also touched upon the issue of identification of unidentified bodies. According to Ihor Klymenko, the investigators and forensic experts of the National Police use various methods and mechanisms of identification, depending on individual circumstances, but DNA is the most effective.
“Currently, there are 18 full-fledged DNA laboratories of the Expert Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Ukraine. They are equipped with modern equipment for conducting examinations, which is extremely important for identifying individuals and investigating war crimes”, – said Ihor Klymenko.
The participants also discussed the protection of critical infrastructure and cybersecurity. In this context, they stressed the importance of exchanging experience and joint training of experts to effectively respond to current challenges.
“We are open to close cooperation and stand ready to share all our experience and programmes with your experts. Today, we face a common responsibility to shape a secure future. And we have to prepare our citizens to counter threats now”, – Ihor Klymenko summed up.
Communications Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
