Dutch Defense Minister: US Approves Delivery Of F-16 Fighter Jets To Ukraine

According to Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren, Netherlands has been ordered to send F-16 fighter planes to Ukraine. “I applaud the US for paving the path for the transfer of F-16 aircraft to Ukraine. The training of Ukrainian pilots may now proceed, the defence minister tweeted. To decide on the next measures, we “remain in close contact with European partners.” Added he.

Although hailed as a significant victory for Kiev, the fighter planes won’t have a direct bearing on the conflict’s almost 18-month duration.

To acquire a competitive advantage in battle, Ukraine has long wanted these planes. It also just carried out a long-awaited counterattack against Kremlin forces without any air support, leaving its soldiers vulnerable to Russian aircraft and artillery. The allies of Ukraine must still train their pilots in tandem, however. The Western alliance, which includes the Netherlands, committed in July to teach Ukrainian pilots to operate F-16s. Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands are members of the Western coalition.

According to the Defence Minister’s tweet, the jets, which were originally manufactured in the United States, would “mark a major milestone” in Ukraine’s defense. The Netherlands had acknowledged that Ukrainian pilot training had begun in June, but the nation was still undecided as to when it would send the planes to Kyiv. They stated that before a potential donation could happen, the pilots would need six to eight months of training.

In the meanwhile, Russian air defenses stopped drone strikes on ships in the Black Sea and on downtown Moscow that were allegedly launched from Ukraine, according to authorities on Friday. Early on Friday, a Ukrainian drone was shot down above downtown Moscow, and some of its components landed on an exhibition hall. Flights were then momentarily halted at all four of Moscow’s main airports.

Late on Thursday night in the Black Sea, naval troops also stopped an attempt by a Ukrainian sea drone to target Russian ships.