Ukraine will receive F-16 fighter jets from partners. The Netherlands will deliver part of the planes, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during his visit to the country.
“F-16. A breakthrough agreement. From today, there are already specifics. They will be in the Ukrainian sky. Thank you, Netherlands! Thank you, Mark [Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands]!” the President of Ukraine said.
Denmark will also deliver F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, which will help protect Ukrainian airspace from Russian aggression, Danish Defense Minister, Jakob Ellemann-Jensen, said.
“It makes me proud that Denmark, together with the Netherlands, will donate F16 fighter jets to Ukraine’s fight for freedom against Russia and their senseless aggression. Denmark’s support for Ukraine is unwavering, and with the donation of F16 aircraft, Denmark is now leading the way,” Ellemann-Jensen added.
The exact number of fighter jets that the Armed Forces of Ukraine will receive is currently unknown. However, negotiations regarding 42 boards are ongoing, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands reported.
At the same time, Ukrainian military personnel, pilots, engineers, and technicians have already started training on the F-16, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said. Training will last at least six months.
Apart from that, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are already starting to test the Swedish Gripen fighter aircraft, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said. Ukraine is also negotiating to have these planes “appear in our skies.”
“Now, we have a breakthrough result regarding Gripen fighters – cool, modern Swedish combat aircraft. Our soldiers are already starting to test them. And we are step by step, negotiation by negotiation, we are getting closer to the fact that Gripen fighters will appear in our sky,” Zelenskyy concluded.
Cover: Koninklijke Luchtmacht та Flyvevaben
