Ukraine asks Netherlands to send F-16 fighters
Photo: uk.wikipedia.org
The Minister of Defense of the Netherlands, Kajsa Ollengren, confirmed that Ukraine had requested the transfer of F-16 fighters.
NOS reports that according to Ollongren, the request is understandable but not easy to fulfill.
"We must discuss the availability of the F-16 with the Americans and other allies. And we must seriously look at the consequences," the minister said. "It cannot happen overnight. We must be honest about it," adding the Netherlands takes the request "very seriously, but the fighter jets issue is not so easily resolved."
Before the Ukrainian army can use fighter jets, soldiers must undergo appropriate training. Since the plane is a US defense system, the country needs permission from the US government.
Ollongren does not rule out that Ukraine will become one of the countries where F-16s will be used in the long term. "The country will never again be able to buy russian fighter jets, as it was before," she said.
For background
At the end of January, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said at a joint press conference with French Prime Minister Macron that Ukraine didn't make a request, but the Netherlands is willing to hand over F-16s if Ukraine asks for them. He added that the Netherlands could pay for any F-16 purchases.
For some time, Ukraine has been on the quest to get fighter jets for its air force, insisting on Western military aircraft supply to fight against russia.
President Zelenskyi expressed this position during his visit to Great Britain and called on EU leaders in Brussels to provide jets.
After the talks, Zelensky said he had heard from several European leaders that they were ready to supply the planes without going into details. However, some Western countries are still reluctant to undertake obligations.
In addition, agreements on the permission to deploy the F-16 also apply to other aircraft and countries: the country where the plane is manufactured must give its blessing for deployment in Ukraine. Sometimes it even applies to several countries, as is the case with Eurofighter Typhoon jets produced by four countries: Britain, Germany, Italy, and Spain.
