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The Netherlands and Denmark have confirmed their commitment to provide Kyiv with over 40 multipurpose F-16 fighter jets, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who recently visited both countries.
However, due to the extensive pilot training process, the delivery of these American-made jets, which Ukraine has long requested, will not occur in time to assist during the challenging summer counteroffensive that began in June and has only yielded modest progress so far.
This transfer, authorized by Washington on Friday, marks the first instance of Ukraine’s western allies supplying NATO-grade aircraft to Kyiv. Slovakia and Poland have previously donated their fleets of Soviet jets to Ukraine.
Zelenskyy stated during a press conference at a military air base in the southern Dutch city of Eindhoven, alongside outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, “F-16s will undoubtedly bring new energy, confidence, and motivation to our fighters and citizens.” He also referred to a recent Russian ballistic missile strike on a theater in central Chernihiv, north of Kyiv, that killed seven people and injured over 100, saying, “We will utilize these jets to protect Ukrainian cities and villages from Russian terrorists.”
In a separate post on the social media platform X, Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine would receive 42 retired jets from the Netherlands. Rutte added that his country has that number in stock but did not specify the exact quantity that would be delivered to Kyiv. He mentioned that approximately 15 jets were required for training purposes.
“We require planes for training,” stated a spokesperson for the Dutch government. “We are currently exploring if we can provide the remaining planes, but we need to assess whether they can be updated.”
During a joint press conference with Zelenskyy at Skrydstrup air base in Denmark, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced that her country would donate 19 F-16s, which was confirmed by the Ukrainian president on social media.
Denmark, with its fleet of 43 F-16s, stated that the deliveries would occur gradually as the country transitions to the newer F-35 jets. The Netherlands is also procuring a fleet of F-35s.
“Denmark will do everything in its power to expand the coalition, allowing more countries to provide the F-16s that Ukraine requires to strengthen its air defense,” stated Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen.
Zelenskyy will stay overnight in Denmark before delivering a speech to the country’s parliament and meeting with Queen Margrethe on Monday.
Frederiksen stated that the first six F-16s should arrive around the end of this year, followed by eight more in 2024, and the remaining five in 2025. The arrival date for the Dutch jets in Ukraine has not been confirmed yet.
According to Danish officials, one condition for the donation is that the jets are solely used by Ukraine for defensive purposes and not for attacking Russia.
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine began seeking western fighter jets to enhance their capabilities.
Ukraine’s robust air defense systems, consisting of diminishing Soviet weaponry and newly acquired NATO-grade surface-to-air missiles, have prevented Russia’s extensive air force from achieving air superiority.
However, Ukrainian pilots have expressed concerns that their aging Soviet fleet fails to provide adequate cover for infantry units due to Russia’s modern fighter jets possessing longer-range radars and missiles, enabling them to engage Ukrainian aircraft and ground positions from safe distances.
Additional reporting by Alice Hancock in Brussels
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