AMSTERDAM, April 15 (Reuters) - The Netherlands will spend 248 million euros ($293 million) on producing drones for Ukraine, Dutch Defence Minister Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius said on Wednesday.
"Drones play a crucial role on the modern battlefield. Ukrainians deploy them with incredible skill to repel the incessant Russian attacks," she said after meeting her counterparts from NATO countries and the alliance's Secretary General Mark Rutte in Berlin on Wednesday.
"Thanks to the good cooperation with Ukraine, we are learning directly from this. This also offers opportunities for our business community," she added. The drones will be manufactured in the Netherlands and Ukraine.
NATO allies have already provided over $4.5 billion in military equipment for Ukraine, according to data from the U.S. ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker released in February.
($1 = 0.8475 euros)
(Reporting by Inti Landauro; editing by Barbara Lewis)
