By Jaroslav Lukiv BBC correspondent
3 hours ago
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Ukraine has been pushing its ally to provide advanced fighter jets to counter Russian air strikes.
The United States agreed with Denmark and the Netherlands to transfer the US-made F16 fighter jets to Ukraine, provided that the Ukrainian pilots completed operational training.
“This way, Ukraine can take full advantage of its new capabilities,” a State Department spokesman said.
Ukraine praised the decision, which it has been fighting for since last year.
However, Kiev is expected to wait several months before using the F16 to try to counter Russian air superiority.
The Netherlands is believed to have around 24 operational F16s scheduled to retire and be replaced by more advanced fighters.
Denmark is also planning to upgrade its fleet of 30 F16s.
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The United States and its allies have previously ruled out supplying Ukraine with F16s, fearing that doing so would escalate hostilities with nuclear-armed Russia.
Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has not publicly commented on the jets.
A U.S. State Department spokesman said both the Netherlands and Denmark had received “formal assurances” about the transfer of the multirole F16 fighter jets.
The spokesman added that this would take place “after the first batch of pilots have completed their training”.
Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra welcomed the U.S. decision, saying in a post on X (formerly Twitter): “This marks a major milestone in Ukraine’s defense of its people and country.”
Danish Defense Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen echoed that sentiment.
“The government has said several times that donations are the next natural step after training. We are discussing this with our close allies,” he told Denmark’s Ritzau news agency.
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In Ukraine, Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov described the US decision as “great news”.
He wrote on X: “Our military has proven that there are many fast learners among them. We will soon prove that victory in Ukraine is sure to come. Thanks to all our partners and friends in the United States, the Netherlands and Denmark. Victory is in sight! “
The 11-member coalition of Ukraine’s Western allies will start training Ukrainian pilots later this month and is expected to be operational next year.
Earlier this week, Ukrainian air force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat acknowledged that Kiev would not be able to start operating the F16s this fall and winter.
The F16 Fighting Falcon is widely regarded as one of the most reliable fighter jets in the world.
According to the U.S. Air Force, it can be armed with precision-guided missiles and bombs and can fly at speeds of 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) per hour.
The F16’s targeting capability will allow Ukraine to strike Russian forces with greater accuracy in all weather conditions and at night.
Ukraine is believed to have dozens of fighter jets – mostly MiGs – all from the Soviet era, and the country is now significantly weaker than Russia in the air.
Kiev needs modern warplanes to help defend its airspace against regular Russian missile and drone strikes, while supporting counteroffensives in southern and eastern Ukraine that have so far yielded limited results.
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2023-08-20 09:30:10
