Войти

"Already on the way": Denmark and the Netherlands transfer F-16 to Ukraine

2097
0
-1
Image source: Greg Mathieson/Mai/Getty Images

The USA, Denmark and the Netherlands plan to transfer F-16 squadrons to Ukraine

Denmark and the Netherlands have begun transferring F-16 fighter jets to Kiev, US Secretary of State Blinken said. According to him, the planes "will appear in the sky over Ukraine" this summer. As the leaders of the countries explained, the Armed Forces of Ukraine will receive "squadrons of modern F-16 multi-purpose aircraft of the fourth generation," exactly how many is not specified. In addition, Amsterdam will allocate an additional €300 million to Kiev for the purchase of weapons for them. Both Denmark and the Netherlands had previously allowed the Armed Forces of Ukraine to use aircraft for strikes against Russia.

The authorities of Denmark and the Netherlands have already begun to transfer F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinkenna told a Public NATO Forum in Washington.

"I am pleased to announce that, as we speak, the transfer of F-16s, which will come from Denmark and the Netherlands, is underway [to Kiev]. These planes will appear in the skies over Ukraine this summer," he said, adding that the fighters are "on their way."

At the same time, the head of the State Department did not specify exactly how many planes Kiev would receive. Subsequently, the White House press service issued a joint statement by the leaders of Denmark, the Netherlands and the United States, according to which Western countries plan to provide Ukraine with entire squadrons of F-16 fighter jets.

"We are committed to further building up the military air potential of Ukraine, which will include squadrons of modern F-16 multi-purpose aircraft of the fourth generation," the statement said.

€300 million for armaments

As noted in a joint statement by American President Joe Biden, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schof, the coalition of Western countries plans to provide assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine to support fighter jets in working order and continue training pilots.

In addition, the Dutch Ministry of Defense announced that Amsterdam will additionally allocate €300 million to Kiev for the purchase of weapons for F-16 fighters. This amount, as the defense ministry drew attention to, is allocated in addition to € 150 million, "which were previously reserved for the purchase of F-16 weapons."

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, commenting on the news about the transfer of fighter jets to Ukraine, said that plans for the supply of F-16s show that the United States is leading a "gang of war."

Strikes against Russia are allowed

Back in August 2023, Washington approved the transfer of its F-16s from Denmark and the Netherlands to Ukraine upon completion of training for Ukrainian pilots. The United States also agreed to train Ukrainian pilots to control these fighters.

On May 30, 2024, the head of the Danish Foreign Ministry, Lars Lecke Rasmussen, said that the Armed Forces of Ukraine would be able to use F-16 fighters transferred by Denmark to strike targets in Russia. He noted that this is not a new position of Copenhagen, and this condition has been discussed from the very beginning.

Dutch Defense Minister Kaisa Ollongren also announced on June 3 that Amsterdam does not prohibit the Armed Forces of Ukraine from using the transferred F-16s to hit targets in Russia.

In total, Kiev expects to receive over 100 fighters - so many combat vehicles are required to completely replace the Soviet fleet and gain an advantage over the Russian Armed Forces in the sky, said Yuri Ignat, ex-representative of the AFU Air Force command.

In June 2023, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called the plans to transfer the F-16 to the Armed Forces a movement "along the so-called escalation ladder." He noted that one of the modifications of these aircraft can carry nuclear weapons and Russia will keep this in mind.


Anastasia Novikova

The rights to this material belong to
The material is placed by the copyright holder in the public domain
  • The news mentions
Do you want to leave a comment? Register and/or Log in
ПОДПИСКА НА НОВОСТИ
Ежедневная рассылка новостей ВПК на электронный почтовый ящик
  • Discussion
    Update
  • 03.07 02:14
  • 9542
Without carrot and stick. Russia has deprived America of its usual levers of influence
  • 03.07 02:06
  • 5
"An order for hundreds of vehicles is possible": the Slovak Wolf 25 AD armored anti-drone vehicle is being tested in Ukraine
  • 03.07 02:02
  • 1
Ответ на "Утечки раскрыли тайный британский план “потопить весь Черноморский флот” (The Grayzone, США)"
  • 03.07 02:00
  • 1
В России заметили огневую точку с корабельной пушкой
  • 03.07 01:45
  • 1
Russia has issued a harsh ultimatum to Britain: "Openly hostile!" (Daily Express, UK)
  • 03.07 00:33
  • 1
В США оценили создающую проблемы для НАТО ракету России
  • 03.07 00:26
  • 1
Short bursts: new Kalashnikov assault rifles are being tested in the free zone
  • 03.07 00:03
  • 1
Bad news for NATO: Russia has a stockpile of Oreshnik missiles (infoBRICS, China)
  • 02.07 23:55
  • 1
Promising American Blackbeard GL rocket
  • 02.07 23:38
  • 1
Intellectual abilities of top military commanders
  • 02.07 23:25
  • 1
"Total collapse." What are the weaknesses in Ukraine's defense?
  • 02.07 23:14
  • 1
В зону СВО поступили плащи для маскировки бойцов
  • 02.07 21:35
  • 1096
Израиль "готовился не к той войне" — и оказался уязвим перед ХАМАС
  • 02.07 21:18
  • 0
Ответ на "В США впечатлились российским «всевидящим монстром»"
  • 02.07 19:10
  • 487
Претензии к администрации сайта