Netherlands to deliver 18 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine
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The Netherlands sent its first US-made F-16s to a new training facility for Ukrainian pilots and staff in Romania in November.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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AMSTERDAM - The Netherlands will deliver 18 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine to help its battle against Russia's invasion, the Dutch government said on Dec 22.
"Today, I informed President Zelensky of our government's decision to prepare an initial 18 F-16 fighter aircraft for delivery to Ukraine," caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte said in a post on social media platform X.
"The delivery of F-16s is one of the most important elements of the agreements made on military support for Ukraine."
The delivery of the fighter jets is still pending on an export permit by the Dutch ministry of Foreign Affairs and the fulfillment of criteria for staff and infrastructure in Ukraine, Mr Rutte added, without giving a timeline for these decisions.
But the announcement made it possible to reserve funds and people to prepare the planes for delivery, the government said.
"I spoke with Mark Rutte to thank the Dutch government for its decision to start preparing the initial 18 F-16 jets for their delivery to Ukraine," Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky said on X.
The Netherlands sent its first US-made F-16s to a new training facility for Ukrainian pilots and staff
Denmark, Norway and Belgium have also announced they will give F-16 jets to Ukraine,
