The Netherlands will send 18 US F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, the Dutch government announced on Friday, as kyiv faces increased pressure from Russia on the front lines. "The Netherlands will make at least 18 F-16 fighters available to Ukraine," the Dutch Defense Ministry said in a statement.
The export of military equipment requires prior permission to avoid unwanted use, so the devices will first be tested according to EU criteria, the ministry added. "In addition, some aircraft require exhaustive maintenance," the government said.
Other criteria must also be met before the actual delivery of the planes, such as the training of Ukrainian personnel and the availability of adequate infrastructure in Ukraine, according to the government.
"Thanks to the F-16s, Ukraine will be able to better defend itself against Russian attacks," said Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren. This is "extremely important, because the ongoing Russian aggression shows no sign of stopping," she added.
With the support of the United States, Denmark and the Netherlands formalized their commitment in August to deliver up to 61 fighters once Ukrainian pilots have received training.
In recent statements, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attributed the failure of the summer counteroffensive to a lack of ammunition and Russia's air superiority. Almost two years after the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, what is emerging is a war of attrition, with Russian forces once again taking the initiative in some points of the front.
