Zelensky meets with Dutch PM to discuss US-backed F-16s supply

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the Netherlands two days after the country said the US had given its approval for Dutch and Danish authorities to deliver F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine's air force.

Zelensky is meeting Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte at a military air base in the southern city of Eindhoven. The Ukrainian leader was in Sweden a day earlier.

The leaders plan to discuss the G20 peace summit, Ukraine's peace formula, and holding Russian accountable for war crimes in Ukraine at the Hague Court.

The U.S. approval Friday for the Netherlands and Denmark to deliver American-made F-16s to Ukraine was seen as a major boost for Kyiv, even though the fighter jets won't have an impact any time soon on the almost 18-month war.

Previously, Zelensky met with the Swedish PM to discuss joint CV-90 armored vehicle production. The states a memorandum and reaffirmed the support during the full-scale war. 

The talks focused on military assistance, the development of bilateral cooperation, particularly in the defense industry, Ukraine's EU integration, and the Euro-Atlantic security guarantees.

Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska visited the Aleris Rehab Station, a high-level rehabilitation center for the Ukrainian military and civilians in Sweden

The issue of providing Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets was previously brought up at a Ramstein defense-related summit in June.

After the meeting, Ukraine's partners pledged to approve a training program for the pilots, engineers, and technicians on F-16 fighter jets, with the training taking place in a specially created center in a European country.

The prime ministers of the Netherlands and Great Britain, Mark Rutte and Rishi Sunak, agreed to work on forming an international coalition of fighter jets for Ukraine. Denmark announced it had joined the coalition too.

The US has approved the transfer of training equipment for F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine at Denmark's request, which should bring the start of training for pilots on these aircraft closer.

The Netherlands and Denmark have greenlighted the delivery of F-16 fighters to Ukraine after Ukrainian pilots complete their training.