Netherlands pledges Ukraine $580 million for drones and other weapons

THE HAGUE, June 17 (Reuters) - The Dutch government on Wednesday pledged to buy drones and air defence equipment for Ukraine with a total value of €500 million ($580 million).

• It will buy €250 million worth of drones from Dutch defence companies.

• The other €250 million will be spent through the initiative to supply Ukraine with weapons made in the United States(PURL).

• The new pledge takes the Netherlands' total contribution to this initiative to €1 billion.

• It provides Ukraine with equipment and missiles for air defence, and ammunition for F16 fighter jets and other systems.

• Netherlands and Ukraine have also signed a letter of intent for cooperation on defence innovations.($1 = 0.8624 euros)

(Reporting by Bart Meijer, Editing by Charlotte Van Campenhout)