F-16 fighter jets heading from Denmark to Netherlands – US Secretary of State
- 11 July, 09:57
The first batch of F-16 fighter jets are being transferred to Ukraine from Denmark and Netherlands amid NATO’s efforts to reinforce Kyiv’s defences against Russia, US State Secretary Antony Blinken stated on Wednesday. “As we speak, the transfer of F-16 fighter jets is underway, coming from Denmark, coming from the Netherlands,” Blinken announced on Wednesday while speaking on the sidelines of a NATO meeting in Washington.
“And those jets… will be flying in the skies of Ukraine this summer to make sure that Ukraine can continue to effectively defend itself against Russian aggression,” he stressed. The US official also said that NATO is working on an “incredibly robust package,” which could be unveiled in the next couple of days.
In a joint statement, the leaders of the US, Denmark and the Netherlands said the Danish and Dutch governments are in the process of donating US-produced F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, with the support of Washington, without revealing more details about the transfer.
“We are committed to further enhancing Ukraine’s air defence capabilities, which will include squadrons of modern fourth generation F-16 multi-role aircraft. The coalition seeks to support their sustainment and armament, as well as further associated training for pilots to enhance operational effectiveness,” the statement added.
Commenting on the transfer of F-16 fighter jets and following the meeting with his Dutch and Danish counterparts, Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said in a post on X: “We are preparing to meet modern fighter jets in the Ukrainian skies.”
Capable of carrying bombs, rockets and missiles, and equipped with a 20mm cannon, F-16s have been in Ukraine’s wish list for a long time. Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy pleaded for more Patriot air defence systems and said he wanted to double Ukraine’s air defence capacity over the summer.
