Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced during his Europe visit that the Netherlands and Denmark will supply dozens of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.
The Ukrainian president announced that his country would receive 19 F-16 fighter aircraft from Denmark. The Netherlands has 42 F-16 jets available, however, it is not clear if all of them will be donated to Ukraine.
Zelenskyy said, “Our warriors will receive 42 great combat aircraft,” as he thanked the Dutch and Danish governments and people for their support and decision to send aircraft to Ukraine.
Zelenskyy announced that Ukrainian pilots and engineers have already begun their training in Denmark as they are providing Ukraine with 19 F-16 jets. Zelenskyy added, “We are working on the speed of preparations… Our F-16 coalition is proving its efficiency.”
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and his team visited the Netherlands and Denmark on August 20 after concluding the Sweden trip. Zelenskyy said, “Today we are confident that Russia will lose this war,” as he announced the European Allies’ decision to send fighter jets.
Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said that his country’s pilots have also begun training on F-16 jets. He said, “Training [on F-16 fighter jets] has begun” and the “minimal term of training is six months.”
The decision comes after the United States approved the request from the Netherlands and Denmark to send F-16s to Ukraine. The Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra hailed the U.S. decision and said, “We welcome Washington’s decision to pave the way for sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine… Now, we will further discuss the subject with our European partners.”
Soon after the announcement, Greece offered to train the Ukrainian pilots. Greek pilots are considered experienced in flying U.S.-made jets as the country’s Air Force operates many F-16s.
“Today, we have the important result for aviation coalition. Greece will participate in training of our pilots for F-16. I am grateful for this proposal,” Zelenskyy said during a joint press conference with Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens, on August 22.
Denmark’s Defense Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen said in a statement that Ukraine would be allowed to use the donated F-16 fighters within its territory and not attack Russia.
The Danish defense minister said, “We donate weapons under the condition that they are used to drive the enemy out of the territory of Ukraine. And no further than that.” He added that “Those are the conditions, whether it’s tanks, fighter planes, or something else.”
In response to the European Allies’ decision to give Ukraine F-16s, Russian Ambassador Vladimir Barbin said on August 21, “The fact that Denmark has now decided to donate 19 F-16 aircraft to Ukraine leads to an escalation of the conflict.” He added, “By hiding behind a premise that Ukraine itself must determine the conditions for peace, Denmark seeks with its actions and words to leave Ukraine with no other choice but to continue the military confrontation with Russia.”
