Netherlands prepares to send 18 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine – Zelensky

The Netherlands will deliver 18 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine to help its battle against Russia's invasion, the Dutch government said on Friday.

The delivery of F-16s is one of the most important elements of the agreements made on military support for Ukraine, the Dutch PM said during his phone call with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Zelensky thanked the Netherlands for actively supporting the start of negotiations on Ukraine's EU accession and emphasized the importance of providing long-term EU assistance worth €50 billion as soon as possible.

The interlocutors discussed developments at the front, the situation in the Black Sea, and Ukraine's military needs, including artillery, drones, and air defense equipment.

"We agreed to continue our joint work on security guarantees following the G7 Vilnius Declaration. We also discussed the next Peace Formula meeting and efforts to further consolidate international support for the Ukrainian vision of a just peace," Zelensky said.

The Netherlands has previously approved year-long €100 million aid for Ukraine's humanitarian needs.

The US has approved sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine from Denmark and the Netherlands to regain air dominance as soon as pilot training is completed, a Reuters source confirmed.

The transfer of Western-made F-16 jets to Ukraine is expected to take place in early 2024, although specific dates have not been determined yet, according to Politico. 

In November, the first F-16s for training pilots from Ukraine, which were previously sent by the Netherlands, arrived at the training center in Romania.