Denmark confirms readiness to supply Kyiv with F-16 fighter jets
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Denmark and the Netherlands will transfer F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, the delivery will occur subject to a number of conditions, the report says. statement Ministry of Defense of Denmark.
Earlier today, August 20, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky informed on the agreements reached with the authorities of the Netherlands on the supply of aircraft. Prior to this, the F-16 transfer was approved in Washington.
“We agree to transfer F-16 aircraft to Ukraine and its Air Force, in close cooperation with the United States and other partners, subject to a number of conditions, which include, among other things, successfully selected, tested and trained Ukrainian personnel for the F-16, as well as the necessary permits , infrastructure and logistics,” the Defense Ministry said.
On August 18, Reuters, citing an unnamed US official, reported that Washington had approved the delivery of F-16s to Ukraine from Denmark and the Netherlands. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that Kyiv will be able to take advantage of “new opportunities” after completing pilot training.
The next day, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said that Ukrainian pilots and technicians had already begun training on American fighter jets. At the same time, he confirmed that the training period for pilots is at least six months, urging “not to be upset” if in reality it turns out to be longer.
At the May summit of the leaders of the G7 countries (USA, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Japan) in the Japanese city of Hiroshima, an agreement was announced to supply fourth-generation American-made F-16 fighter jets to Kiev. The Pentagon said that the European coalition to train Ukrainian pilots to fly the F-16 will be led by Denmark and the Netherlands. The Danish Ministry of Defense calls on other states to join the coalition.
Russian President Vladimir Putin at a plenary session SPIEF stated that in the case of deliveries to Ukraine, F-16 fighters would burn in the same way as Leopard tanks. The Kremlin previously said that this assistance to Kyiv would not change the situation on the line of contact. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov promised a military-technical response in the event of an F-16 appearing in the sky of Ukraine.
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