The supply of the plane to Kiev was introduced throughout President Vladimir Zelensky’s European tour
The Netherlands and Denmark mentioned on Sunday that they might give Ukraine long-demanded F-16 fighter jets. The transfer was introduced throughout a gathering between Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, because the leaders toured an airbase in Eindhoven.
“At the moment we are able to announce that the Netherlands and Denmark decide to the switch of F-16 plane to Ukraine and the Ukrainian Air Pressure, together with cooperation with america and different companions as soon as the situations for such a switch have been met,” Rutte mentioned throughout a joint press convention with Zelensky.
The prime minister famous that his nation has 42 plane of this sort, however that it’s too early to say what number of shall be donated to Kiev. At the least 12 of the plane had been up on the market, with the Netherlands and Argentina negotiating a possible deal for the planes for a number of years.
Zelensky hailed the choice as a “historic” breakthrough, and implied that Amsterdam would hand over its whole F-16 stock to Ukraine.
“Mark Rutte and I agreed on the variety of F-16s that shall be offered to Ukraine – after coaching our pilots and engineers. 42 planes. And that is just the start,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram.
Concurrently, the Danish Protection Ministry launched a press release, confirming the nation will present Kiev with F-16s. The ministry didn’t disclose the precise variety of planes to be despatched, confirming the plane shall be provided below sure “situations,” which “embody, however will not be restricted to, efficiently chosen, examined and educated Ukrainian F-16 personnel in addition to crucial authorizations, infrastructure and logistics.”
“Denmark’s assist for Ukraine is unwavering, and with the donation of F16 plane, Denmark is now main the way in which,” Protection Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen said.
Each the Netherlands and Denmark are within the strategy of phasing out older US-made F-16 fighter jets and changing them with fashionable F-35s. Denmark has round 40 plane of the older kind in its stock.
Kiev has lengthy demanded fight plane from its Western backers, arguing that F-16s – and, probably, planes of different sorts – would assist flip the tide within the battle with Russia. Moscow has repeatedly urged the West to cease “pumping” Ukraine with refined weaponry, arguing that it’ll solely lengthen the hostilities with out altering the end result.
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