NATO allies Netherlands and Denmark vow to send Ukraine F-16 fighter jets to repel Russian invaders – as Volodymyr Zelensky hails ‘breakthrough’
- The pledge is the first real promise of F-16’s for Ukraine’s armed forces
Volodymyr Zelensky flew to the Netherlands today to sign a deal strengthening his country’s air power – after a six-year-old girl was among the victims of a brutal Russian drone attack.
The Ukrainian president travelled for talks in Eindhoven where his air force was granted F-16 fighter jets stationed in Holland and Denmark.
It followed his trip to Sweden asking for light tanks and JAS 39 Gripen jets.
The deal is a major boost for Ukraine’s counter offensive which is now in its third month.
Today Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte confirmed the Netherlands and Denmark would provide fighter jets.
NATO allies Netherlands and Denmark have vowed to send Ukraine F-16 fighter jets to repel Russian invaders – as Volodymyr Zelensky (right) today hailed a ‘breakthrough’
The Netherlands has 42 F-16s available but has yet to decide whether all of them will be donated, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte (right) said earlier today
Mr Rutte said that the Netherlands has 42 F-16s available in all, but it is too early to say whether all of them will be donated.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Mr Zelensky at a military air base in Eindhoven, Mr Rutte said: ‘Today, we can announce that the Netherlands and Denmark commit to the transfer of F-16 aircraft to Ukraine and the Ukrainian Air Force.’
The decision is ‘absolutely historic, powerful and inspiring for us,’ Mr Zelensky said, adding: ‘This is another step towards strengthening Ukraine’s air shield.’
He also called the deal a ‘breakthrough agreement’ and said the exact number of aircraft will be discussed ‘a little later’.
The pledge is the first real promise of F-16’s for Ukraine’s armed forces and comes just days after the United States approved the possible delivery of the fighter jets by the Netherlands and Denmark.
The US had earlier ruled out providing F-16s to Ukraine, fearing that this would lead to further escalation with a nuclear-armed Russia.
In May, Rishi Sunak and Mr Rutte pledged to build an international coalition to provide Ukraine with the jets.
Meanwhile Mr Zelensky condemned Saturday’s bombing of the cultural city of Chernihiv as ‘heinous’.
The Ukrainian president today travelled for talks in Eindhoven where his air force was granted F-16 fighter jets
Zelensky and Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen sit in a F-16 fighter jet at Skrydstrup Airbase in Vojens, Denmark, today
It involved a missile striking the city’s landmark Drama Theatre.
Most of the victims were in vehicles, crossing the road, or returning from church, it was reported.
Seven-including the six-year-old girl called Sofia were killed- with 148 wounded when a bomb detonated in a city square.
One witness, Valentyna 63, lives in an apartment across from the blast and said: ‘It is horrific. Horrific. There were wounded, ambulances and broken glass in here. Nightmare. Just a nightmare.’
Russian forces have targeted a theatre before, having killed up to 600 people in a bombing of the Donetsk Academic Regional Drama Theatre in the besieged city of Mariupol, in March 2022.
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Civilians had been sheltering in Mariupol’s theatre during bombardment of the city.
In response to the latest attack, Ukrainian forces sent drones at infrastructure targets in Russia.
A Ukrainian drone hit a train station in the western Russian city of Kursk and injured five people.
While in Moscow and in the southern region of Rostov, Russian forces intercepted Ukrainian drones before they could reach their targets.
Following the attack on Chernihiv, Dmitry Medvedev the former Kremlin president and prime minister, vowed Ukraine will be ‘destroyed to the ground’ so ‘even the ashes from it do not remain’.
In a hardline speech, he added: ‘If it takes years or even decades, then so be it.
‘We have no choice: either we will destroy their hostile political regime, or the collective West will eventually tear Russia to pieces.’
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said she hoped the first Danish F-16s could be handed over to Ukraine around New Year.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte did not provide a timeframe, saying it depends on how soon Ukrainian crews and infrastructure are ready.
He and Mr Zelensky inspected two F-16s parked in a hangar at a Dutch base in the southern city of Eindhoven.
‘The F-16s will not help immediately now with the war effort. It is anyway a long-term commitment from the Netherlands,’ the Dutch leader said.
‘We want them to be active and operational as soon as possible. … Not for the next month, that’s impossible, but hopefully soon afterward.’
A few hours later, Mr Zelensky was received by Ms Frederiksen along with the country’s foreign minister, defence minister and Crown Princess Mary at the Skrydstrup air base in southern Denmark.
Ms Frederiksen said Denmark would provide 19 F-16 jets to Ukraine. She said ‘hopefully’ six could be delivered around New Year, eight more next year and the remaining five in 2025.
‘Please take this donation as a token of Denmark’s unwavering support for your country’s fight for freedom,’ the Danish prime minister said.
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