Planes from Denmark will be the first to arrive: Dutch Defense Minister says when Ukraine will receive F-16s

Ukraine will receive F-16 fighters in the first half of this year. First, the planes will arrive from Denmark.

This was stated by Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren at a briefing after a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. She specified that the Dutch planes would arrive before the end of 2024.

"We will start delivering F-16s this summer. I am sure of it," she said.

Ollongren emphasized that the first aircraft will be from Denmark, as there is already an approved schedule. And in the second half of 2024, Ukraine will receive fighters from the Netherlands.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, the Netherlands announced a 350 million euros military aid package for Ukraine. In particular, Amsterdam will buy ammunition for Ukrainian F-16 aircraft worth 150 million euros directly from its industry.

Earlier, Western partners promised to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighters at the end of 2023, but the delivery date was constantly postponed. Now it is already July 2024. At the same time, the Ukrainian army can only count on 6 out of 45 promised aircraft by the middle of this year.

It is worth noting that Pentagon spokesman Major General Patrick Ryder named "red lines" in Ukraine's use of F-16 fighters. He noted that the West believes that these aircraft can only be used within the sovereign territory of Ukraine to protect its borders.

As a reminder, Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat said that Ukrainian pilots and engineers continue training on American F-16 fighters. The pilots are already practicing tactical techniques, including striking targets. The process of transitioning to new combat aircraft cannot be quick, but Ukraine is doing everything to speed it up.

Danish Prime Minister Matt Frederiksen said that Ukraine has not yet received the promised American-made F-16 fighters solely because of technical issues. At the same time, she assured that the planes to be provided by Denmark would appear in the Ukrainian sky before the beginning of this summer.

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