Netherlands, Denmark to deliver F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine in early 2024

At a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky on August 20, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that Denmark will deliver a total of 19 F-16 jets to Ukraine, of which the first 6 will be delivered to Kiev on New Year's Day, 8 in 2024 and 5 the following year.

Meanwhile, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said: “ Today, we can announce that the Netherlands and Denmark are committed to delivering F-16 aircraft to Ukraine, in cooperation with the United States and its partners once the conditions for that delivery are met.”

Netherlands, Denmark to deliver F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine in early 2024: (Photo: EPA-EFE)

Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the Netherlands has 42 F-16s, but it is too early to say how many will be donated to Kiev. At least 12 have been put up for sale, with the Netherlands and Argentina actively negotiating a transfer deal for the F-16s in recent times.

Mr Zelensky hailed the decision as a "historic" breakthrough. "Prime Minister Mark Rutte and I have agreed on the number of F-16s that will be supplied to Ukraine after the completion of pilot training," he stressed.

This commitment by the Netherlands and Denmark comes a few days after the US approved the transfer of F-16 fighter jets from the two European countries to Kiev.

Denmark and the Netherlands are the two leading countries in their commitment to train Ukrainian pilots to fly the F-16. Both the Netherlands and Denmark are in the process of phasing out their old US-made F-16 fighter jets and replacing them with modern F-35s.

Ukraine has repeatedly urged the West to provide it with more air force, especially F-16s. Russia has repeatedly warned that any Western shipments to Ukraine containing weapons could become legitimate targets for the Russian military.

Kong Anh (Source: Reuters)

Source: https://vtc.vn/ha-lan-dan-mach-giao-chien-dau-co-f-16-cho-ukraine-vao-dau-nam-2024-ar814119.html