The Netherlands and Denmark have announced that they will definitely supply F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine when the conditions for their transfer are met, Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, said today, during the visit of Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, to his country.

Rutte said the Netherlands has a total of 42 F-16s, but that it is too early to say whether all will be delivered. After Rutte’s announcement, a similar announcement was made by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The parties agree to transfer F-16 aircraft to Ukraine and the Ukrainian Air Force in close cooperation with the US and other partners when conditions are met. These include, but are not limited to, the successful selection, testing and training of Ukrainian personnel for the F-16s as well as the necessary licenses, infrastructure, and logistical support, the Ministry’s statement added.

Zelensky, who called the deal “historic”, said the exact number of aircraft would be discussed “a little later”. This is the first real commitment to supply F-16s to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, coming just days after the US approved the possible delivery of the fighter jets from the Netherlands and Denmark.

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Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, arrived in the Netherlands today as part of his ongoing attempt to boost his country’s air defence. In the Netherlands, he met with outgoing Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, at a military air base in Eindhoven, Rutte’s office said. In May, Rutte said that the Netherlands seriously considered delivering F-16s to Ukraine, but it was unclear how many would be available and when.

The Netherlands, along with Denmark, have in recent months led international efforts to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16s and eventually deliver the fighter jets to the country to help counter Russian dominance in the field.

Yesterday Saturday, Ukrainian Defence Minister, Oleksiy Reznikov, said that the training of Ukrainian pilots to operate US F-16 fighter jets has begun, but it will take at least six months and possibly more time, noting that six months of training is considered the minimum for pilots. However, it is not yet known how long it will take to train the aircraft engineers. The training will take place in Denmark and Romania, officials from an 11-nation alliance have said.

The Netherlands may deliver F-16s to Ukraine as its Armed Forces will use the latest generation F-35s. Further, yesterday Zelensky was in Sweden, where he held talks on the possibility of the country’s procurement of Gripen-type fighters.

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