Ukraine to get Dutch, Danish F
A Danish F-16A fighter jet is pictured in the hangar at Skrydstrup Air Base in the town of Vojens, northern Denmark, on August 20, 2023. [Photo/Agencies]
The Netherlands and Denmark welcomed the US approval for them to deliver F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine but the training of pilots and delivery of the planes are unlikely to be completed until next year.
The two European countries, both members of NATO, confirmed on Friday that they received the US green light after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken sent letters to his counterparts in the two capitals assuring them of the approval.
Blinken expressed that the approval would allow Ukraine to take "full advantage of its new capabilities as soon as the first set of pilots completes their training".
Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren welcomed the US decision "to clear the way for delivery of F-16 jets to Ukraine", which she said would allow the international coalition "to follow through on the training of Ukrainian pilots".
A coalition of 11 countries agreed at the NATO summit in July to train Ukrainians to fly F-16 jets, which will start this month in Denmark and then in Romania after a training center is built. But the Netherlands Times reported on Friday that the first Ukrainian pilots will probably complete their training in the summer of next year and Ukraine is unlikely to receive any F-16s until next year.
"We welcome Washington's decision to pave the way for sending#F16 Fighter Jets to Ukraine ….Now we will further discuss the subject with our European partners," Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday.
"The government has said several times that a donation is a natural next step after training. We are discussing it with close allies, and I expect we will soon be able to be more concrete about that," Danish Defense Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen told Ritzau news agency on Friday.
Ukraine has been seeking F-16 jets for months to help it counter Russian air superiority in the conflict that began in February last year.
US President Joe Biden, worried about a major escalation with Russia, had ruled out sending F-16 jets to Ukraine in late January. However, he changed his stance in May, agreeing to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 planes.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko earlier warned Western nations of "enormous risks "if Ukraine is provided with F-16 jets.
"It involves enormous risks for themselves. In any case, this will be taken into account in all our plans, and we have all the necessary means to achieve the set goals," TASS news agency quoted him as saying.
Related articles
‘The Blue Angels,’ filmed for IMAX, puts viewers in the ‘box’ with the elite flying squad
If you’re looking for a little bit of that “ Top Gun: Maverick ” spectacle and thrill at the movie t2024-05-21Mom, 28, forced to sell her dream car after forking out $40,000 in INTEREST alone over three years
Three years ago, 28-year-old Blaisey Arnold entered a local auto dealership and came away with the k2024-05-21Complete sponge fossil dating back to 540 mln years found in central China's Hunan
Chinese researchers have recently unearthed a well-preserved large sponge fossil that dates back to2024-05-21Tardy claims maiden LPGA title at Blue Bay in China
Bailey Tardy of the United States captured her first LPGA title after carding a seven-under 65 at th2024-05-21Red Lobster seeks bankruptcy protection after closing some restaurants
Red Lobster, the casual dining chain that brought seafood to the masses with inventions like popcorn2024-05-21Premier League enters its most intriguing title race
After 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo scored a spectacular goal for Manchester United at Old Trafford, the2024-05-21
atest comment