Denmark and the Netherlands have been given the green light by the United States to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets, according to senior officials in both countries. The Ukrainian government has been requesting these US-made warplanes for several months.
In a statement to Danmarks Radio, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen shared that he and Defense Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen had received a letter from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken granting them certain options for action. Rasmussen stated that with Washington’s approval, the barrier preventing them from sending F-16s to Ukraine has been removed. He added that Copenhagen is currently discussing the next steps in this direction with its allies.
Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra also confirmed US approval, noting in a statement on social media that the Netherlands welcomes the decision and views it as a major milestone for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. The Netherlands intends to discuss the matter with its European partners.
The Reuters report that unveiled Blinken’s letter highlighted that the F-16s could be sent once the first set of pilots complete their training. Denmark currently has 43 F-16s, with approximately 30 of them in serviceable condition, while the Netherlands has 24 operational F-16 aircraft.
Ukraine has been persistently requesting F-16s from its Western supporters, arguing that they are crucial in countering Russia’s air superiority. While Ukraine has not yet received the modern jets, the UK and the Netherlands announced an international coalition in May to assist Ukraine in procuring F-16s and training its pilots. This coalition now consists of 11 countries.
Efforts to instruct Ukrainian pilots, however, have encountered obstacles such as delays in the transfer of flight manuals and simulators, as well as language barriers. Consequently, Ukrainian officials recently admitted they would not receive the F-16s until 2024.
It is worth noting that Ukraine’s requests for these warplanes coincide with its widely publicized counteroffensive against Russia, which, according to Moscow, has failed to gain any significant ground. Ukrainian officials have attributed the slow progress to Russia’s air advantage.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has cautioned against providing Ukraine with F-16s, stating that they would meet the same fate as other Western-supplied weaponry, by burning. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has further warned that these planes could escalate hostilities, as they have the potential to carry nuclear weapons.
In conclusion, Denmark and the Netherlands have received US approval to send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. While this is seen as a significant development for Ukraine’s conflict with Russia, a number of challenges and delays need to be addressed before the planes can be delivered.
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