Kyiv, 23 December 2023 (TDI): The Netherlands has announced that it is preparing to transfer its first 18 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte informed Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a telephone conversation on Friday.
While communicating with the Ukrainian President about his government’s decision, Rutte highlighted that the handing over of F-16s serves as one of the most crucial aspects of the military assistance agreements reached with Ukraine.
He further mentioned that aside from an export approval, several other criteria must also be completed before the shipment can take place. This comprises personnel and infrastructural requirements for jets.
https://twitter.com/MinPres/status/1738176812713210363?ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwThe announcement made by the Dutch Premier will allow for the provision of finances and resources to start prepping the aircraft for dispatch.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte stated that this decision reaffirms the Netherlands’ unwavering commitment to giving Ukraine the assistance it requires in responding to Russian aggression.
The President of Ukraine spoke with the Dutch Prime Minister and expressed gratitude for the government’s pivotal decision to begin the preparation of the initial F-16 fighter jet transportation to Ukraine at this significant time.
https://twitter.com/MinPres/status/1738176812713210363?ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwA few weeks ago, the Netherlands delivered its first batch of US-made F-16s to a newly built training facility in Romania for Ukrainian pilots and staff. Denmark, Norway, and Belgium have already disclosed plans to deploy F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, following the Netherlands.
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This comes after the US administration approved in August 2023 to send aircraft from Denmark and the Netherlands to help Ukraine with its defense efforts after pilot training is done. Ukraine for a long time has been actively demanding F-16 fighter planes produced in the United States to help it in countering Russian aerial dominance.
However, Valery Zaluzhnyi, Commander in Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, stated in November that F-16s are expected to be “less helpful” now than they were one year ago since Russia had the time to enhance its air defenses.
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