It is a decision that Volodymyr Zelensky has been waiting for several months. The Ukrainian president therefore welcomed Sunday evening the “historic” decision of the Netherlands and Denmark to deliver to his country a total of 61 American F-16 fighter planes, two days after the American green light on the subject.
“Our fighters will receive 42 super fighter jets” from the Netherlands, wrote the President of Ukraine on X, thanking Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. These are in addition to the 19 announced by Denmark. The latter and the Netherlands, which hosted the Ukrainian president during surprise visits, have pledged to deliver F-16s to kyiv once the Ukrainian pilots have been trained.
Deliveries spread out until 2025
Volodymyr Zelensky was welcomed in the afternoon by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Defense Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen. During this visit, they examined F-16s and took stock of the start of training for Ukrainian pilots, said the office of the Danish Prime Minister.
“We know you need more (military equipment) and that is (…) why we are going to donate 19 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine,” Mette Frederiksen told a conference. release with his Ukrainian counterpart. These planes will be delivered gradually to kyiv: six towards the end of the year, eight next year and five the following year, specified the head of government.
A few hours earlier, Volodymyr Zelensky was at a Dutch air force base in Eindhoven for a surprise visit during which Mark Rutte formalized the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. The Dutch Prime Minister had then specified that the Netherlands had at this stage 42 aircraft of this type but that he would have to speak with his international partners before deciding on the exact number to supply to Kiev.
A passage of Zelensky also in Sweden
The United States on Friday approved the sending by Denmark and the Netherlands of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine once the Ukrainian pilots have been trained. This training, by a coalition of 11 countries, has begun and officials said they hope the pilots will be ready by early 2024. Language courses to help pilots use the devices are underway, d Elsewhere recalled Mark Rutte, adding that he wanted to start “as soon as possible” military training in Denmark, which will then be transferred to Romania.
Volodymyr Zelensky was also in Sweden on Saturday where talks with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson revolved around a new aid package, including the joint production of Swedish CV90 light tanks.