Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, announced that the government of his country has decided to prepare the first 18 F-16 fighter jets for transfer to Ukraine.
The head of the Dutch government shared this information on his X social media page.
In the morning, Rutte held talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky, where they discussed the decision of the EuroCouncil to start negotiations on Ukraine’s integration into the European Union.
He noted that Amsterdam will make every effort to reach an agreement on financial support for Ukraine from the EU during the meeting in February 2024. Rutte also informed the president about the Dutch government’s decision to prepare the first batch of F-16 fighters for transfer to Ukraine.
“This decision confirms the Netherlands’ undiminished commitment to providing Ukraine with the support it needs to respond to the ongoing Russian aggression”, Rutte added.
📞: I spoke with President @ZelenskyyUa again this morning. Naturally, we discussed the European Council’s important decision last week to launch accession negotiations with Ukraine. I’m impressed with Ukraine’s progress so far, and the Netherlands stands ready to help Ukraine as…
— Mark Rutte (@MinPres) December 22, 2023
In turn, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the Dutch government for its decision regarding the F-16s, as well as for the active support in initiating negotiations on Ukraine’s EU accession. He emphasized the importance of providing Ukraine with long-term assistance from the EU in the amount of 50 billion euros as soon as possible.
“This decision will not only contribute to strengthening our defense and macroeconomic stability but also demonstrate the unwavering support from the European Union and may serve as a catalyst for similar decisions by other partners”, said Volodymyr Zelensky.
He also mentioned discussions about the situation on the front, the situation in the Black Sea, and the current military needs of the defense forces, including artillery, drones, and air defense systems.
Earlier, Volodymyr Zelensky stated that since Russia controls the skies, Ukraine needs more air defense systems and fighters to accelerate the counteroffensive. Sweden has also agreed to transfer the necessary fighters, likely Gripen, to Ukraine, which Ukrainian pilots have already tested. The Ukrainian Air Force considers Gripen to be “a good option”.
The slow transfer of Western equipment, including F-16s, was previously cited by the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valeriy Zaluzhnyy, as one of the reasons for the failure of the Ukrainian counteroffensive in 2024.
Photo: Getty Images
