Netherlands, Denmark To Deliver F-16s To Ukraine

The Netherlands and Denmark will definitely give F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine once conditions for the transfer have been met, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Sunday, as Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visited his country, Stephanie van den Berg and Piroschka van der Wouw reported for Reuters.

Photo Insert: The Netherlands has 42 F-16s available in all, but it is too early to say whether all of them will be donated.

Rutte said that the Netherlands has 42 F-16s available in all, but it is too early to say whether all of them will be donated.

"Today we can announce that the Netherlands and Denmark commit to the transfer of F-16 aircraft to Ukraine and the Ukrainian Air Force," in cooperation with the US and other allies, he said in a joint press conference with Zelenskiy at a military air base in Eindhoven, Bart Meijer and Toby Sterling also reported for Reuters.

Zelenskiy who called the deal a "breakthrough agreement" said the exact number of aircraft will be discussed "a little later."

The pledge is the first real promise of F-16s for Ukraine's armed forces and comes a few days after the US approved the possible delivery of the fighter jets by the Netherlands and Denmark.

Zelenskiy arrived in the Netherlands on Sunday and is expected to continue to Denmark later in the day. The Danish foreign ministry also confirmed its commitment to delivering F-16s on Sunday, Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Pavel Polityuk also reported for Reuters.

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