Denmark and the Netherlands want to deliver F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. Supporters praise the decision, critics fear a further escalation of the war. An expert stresses the psychological importance of US warplanes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Denmark for the promised delivery of F-16 fighter jets. Ukraine is defending freedom and democracy against tyranny in the fight against Russian invaders, Zelenskyy said in the Danish parliament. If his country does not prevail, all of Russia’s neighbors are in danger.
Denmark announced on Sunday that it would deliver 19 fighter jets to Ukraine. Six could “hopefully” be delivered at the turn of the year, eight more next year and the remaining five in 2025, said Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. The Netherlands also promised to deliver F-16s, but did not give a number. Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram from 42 machines.
Strack-Zimmermann also demands “Taurus” delivery
FDP defense expert Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann welcomed the announced delivery. “I am very pleased that Denmark and the Netherlands have promised Ukraine that,” said Strack-Zimmermann Deutschlandfunk.
Against this background, she renewed her call for a speedy decision by the federal government to deliver “Taurus” cruise missiles to the country attacked by Russia. Ukraine has been demanding the projectiles for a long time. Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has recently expressed reservations. There are fears that “Taurus” cruise missiles could also reach Russian territory.
With the commitment of the Netherlands and Denmark to deliver the F-16, Strack-Zimmermann sees this argument as invalid. “Obviously Ukraine is not being accused of being able to attack Russian territory,” said the chair of the Defense Committee in the Bundestag.
Criticism of delivery by Russia and the left
For left-wing politician Sören Pellmann, however, the delivery of F-16 fighter jets by the Netherlands and Denmark to Ukraine crosses “another red line”. The federal government is urging the Leipzig member of the Bundestag to use political pressure to prevent this disclosure. “It cannot be that individual NATO countries make this decision for themselves and thus escalate the situation for everyone.” He renewed the demand of the left for a European peace initiative.
Russia also criticized the announced F-16 delivery. The step will lead to a further escalation of the conflict, said the Russian ambassador to Denmark, Vladimir Barbin, according to the Danish news agency Ritzau. Denmark is hiding behind the premise that Ukraine must determine the conditions for peace itself. Denmark is trying “with deeds and words to leave Ukraine no choice but to continue the military confrontation with Russia.”
Expert: F-16 important for motivation of Ukrainians
The political scientist Maximilian Terhalle emphasized the military and psychological importance of the delivery of F-16 fighter jets. “The F-16 will be able to give Russian attack helicopters a hard time and make the airspace safer for the advancing ground troops,” said the visiting professor for strategy at the London School of Economics of the dpa news agency. However, he acknowledged that the Russian Air Force will not voluntarily give up its previous superiority. “Depending on how quickly the F-16s are deployed, the Ukrainian ground forces will be more or less exhausted.”
According to the expert, the promises made by Denmark and the Netherlands to deliver the fighter jets are primarily important for motivating the Ukrainians. “President Volodymyr Zelenskyy needs success on the battlefield,” Terhalle said. “The fighter jets are an essential element that helps him to maintain and promote the motivation of the population and the troops.” However, the F-16 is not a “game changer”.
Like Strack-Zimmermann, Terhalle is also calling on the federal government to speed up the decision on whether to deliver “Taurus” cruise missiles to Ukraine. The expert said that this promise would only come when there was even more pressure from NATO.