Volodymyr Zelensky traveled on August 20, 2023 first to the Netherlands and then to Denmark where he welcomed the decision of the two European countries to deliver American F-16 fighter jets to Kiev. A formalization, two days after the green light from the United States on Friday.
2 mins
With our regional correspondent, Jean-Jacques Hery
The delivery of Western aircraft to fight Russian forces was a long-standing request from Ukraine and so it was made official this Sunday, August 20, 2023. First during a surprise mid-day visit by Volodymyr Zelensky in the Netherlands during which Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte pledged to deliver several F-16 fighter jets without specifying the exact number, explaining that he first had to discuss it with his Western partners. The Netherlands currently has 42 of these devices.
19 Danish F-16s supplied over three years
Less mystery in Denmark, where the Ukrainian president went a few hours later. Copenhagen will supply 19 F-16 planes, according to Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, even mentioning a delivery schedule: six by the end of this year, eight in 2024 and five in 2025.
Before that, Ukrainian pilots will have to be trained in the use of these new planes. This training has already started since Ukrainian pilots and engineers are already in Denmark. Delivered under the leadership of eleven countries, its stated goal is to have pilots ready and fully trained by the beginning of 2024. After Denmark, training will continue in Romania, as close as possible to Ukrainian territory.
“ This is a very powerful support for us said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “ This is absolutely historic, this is a new step towards strengthening the air shield of Ukraine “.
Read alsoWar in Ukraine: at least 500,000 dead or injured according to senior US officials