Delivery of F16 fighter jets to Ukraine has begun
Details called on NATO countries, citing security concerns, not to. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had previously stated at a security forum in Washington: "While we are talking here, the deployment of F-16 aircraft is ongoing."
A coalition including the Netherlands and Denmark had offered Kiev F-16 fighter jets last year, but the delivery kept getting delayed. Blinken also did not specify how many planes were on the move. The new Dutch government promised Kiev an "urgent" delivery over the weekend. The coalition also includes Belgium, Norway, and other countries.
"We are determined to build up Ukraine's air forces further," the statement from Denmark, the Netherlands, and the USA read. This included "also squadrons of fourth-generation multi-role F-16 fighter jets." The coalition would support the maintenance and armament of these planes and train their pilots.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had told the AFP news agency in May that Ukraine needed around 130 F-16 jets to establish parity with the Russian air force. Western allies have so far promised Ukraine fewer than a hundred combat aircraft.
- The NATO summit agrees to accelerate discussions about the provision of military aid following the delay in the delivery of F-16 fighter jets from a coalition including Denmark and the Netherlands to Ukraine.
- Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, emphasized the ongoing deployment of F-16 aircraft during a security forum in Washington, addressing concerns about the NATO summit and Ukraine's security needs.
- In Kiev, the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, expressed his hope for 130 F-16 jets to establish parity with the Russian air force, as NATO partner Denmark and others consider the delivery of these fighter jets.
- Despite previous delays, the new Dutch government vows to expedite the "urgent" delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, aligning with the USA and Belgium in their commitment to strengthen Ukraine's air force capacity.
- Besides Denmark and the Netherlands, countries such as Norway and others within the NATO partnership are also involved in the coalition, planning to support the maintenance, armament, and pilot training of fourth-generation multi-role F-16 fighter jets for Ukraine.
- As part of the NATO summit's ambitions to bolster Ukraine's defense capabilities, the US, the Netherlands, and Denmark collaborate on providing F-16 fighter jets, signaling a major commitment to their NATO partner in the face of ongoing security concerns.
