Copenhegen; According to Danish Defence Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen, Ukraine may only use the F-16 fighter jets that Denmark and the Netherlands are donating on its own soil.
On Sunday, Denmark and the Netherlands announced they would give Ukraine six F-16s, the first of which would arrive around the new year.
"We provide weapons on the understanding that they will be used to expel the enemy from Ukrainian territory. And nothing more," Ellemann-Jensen reportedly said, as quoted by the Ritzau news agency.
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Whether it's tanks, fighter jets, or something else, those are the circumstances, he said.
Total delivery of 19 jets from Denmark. The Netherlands has access to 42 F-16s in total, but has not yet decided whether all
The planes, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, will help Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russian forces and bolster its air defences.
The announcement of brand-new fighter jets came the day after an unusually brazen Russian missile attack on a theatre in the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv resulted in seven fatalities and nearly 150 injuries. Zelensky promised severe retaliation for the attack, which claimed the lives of 15 children who were injured and a 6-year-old girl.
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The US recently gave its approval for the Netherlands and Denmark to give Ukraine the American-made jets after months of Zelensky's pleading for F-16s to strengthen the Ukrainian air force. Zelensky visited both nations on Sunday to seal the delivery agreements.
"F-16s will undoubtedly infuse fighters and civilians with new vigour, confidence, and motivation. I'm confident that it will produce novel results for Ukraine and all of Europe, the Ukrainian president said.
After launching a counteroffensive against the Kremlin's forces without air support from Western aircraft, leaving its troops at the mercy of Russian aviation and artillery, Ukraine is hoping the jets will give it a combat edge.
Mette Frederiksen, the prime minister of Denmark, pledged 19 F-16s to Ukraine and expressed the hope that the first six could be delivered around the start of the new year. The readiness of Ukrainian crews and infrastructure is what determines how soon a number or timeframe can be given, according to Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. On his Telegram channel, Zelensky announced that Ukraine would receive 42 jets.
The F-16s won't contribute to the war effort right away. In any case, the Netherlands is making a long-term commitment, Rutte said. "We want them to be operational and active as soon as we can. It's not going to happen within the next month, but hopefully soon after.
He and Zelensky examined two grey F-16s that were parked in a hangar at a Dutch base in Eindhoven, a city in southern Netherlands.
A few hours later, at the Skrydstrup air base in southern Denmark, where Ukrainian pilots will soon receive F-16 training, Zelensky and his wife were welcomed by Frederiksen, other members of the Danish Cabinet, and Crown Princess Mary. The two leaders tried out the seats in a Danish F-16 before getting inside.
Six fighter jets could "hopefully" be delivered around the New Year, eight more the following year, and the final five in 2025, according to Frederiksen.
She said, "Please accept this gift as a symbol of Denmark's unwavering support for your nation's struggle for freedom."
The donations from the Netherlands and Denmark, according to Zelensky, were a "huge push for other countries who were in doubt" about giving Ukraine F-16s. When asked if there were any restrictions on using the donations, such as a promise not to use them in Russian territory, Zelensky responded that there had not been any talk of such restrictions but added that protecting Ukrainian territory was the "main goal."
The governments of the Netherlands and Denmark are also leading a coalition that aims to train Ukrainian pilots to operate the cutting-edge fighter jets.
Zelensky cited security concerns in declining to say how many Ukrainian pilots would train in Denmark and later in Romania. According to Frederiksen, "more than 70" Ukrainian personnel had already arrived in Denmark and were preparing to begin their training.
The Danish Armed Forces have outlined the conditions under which Ukraine will receive training for the operation of American-made F-16 fighter jets, following the recent authorization to deliver these aircraft to Ukraine. The Danish Armed Forces stated that Ukrainian pilots must pass security reviews, health assessments, and language skill tests before training begins, which is expected to last at least six months. While an exact duration for training remains uncertain due to variables such as experience and language proficiency, officials had previously estimated that Ukrainian pilots would require six to eight months of training.
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This announcement came two days after the Netherlands and Denmark confirmed that the US had granted authorization for them to supply F-16s to Ukraine. The F-16s, along with advanced US Abrams tanks, are seen as pivotal assets for Ukraine's defense against Russia. The introduction of F-16s is a significant upgrade for Ukraine, which has been reliant on older Russian-made aircraft.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been advocating for increased international support, requesting Swedish Gripen fighter jets during a visit to Sweden. While Sweden has not yet decided on this request, they have allowed Ukrainian pilots to test the aircraft.
As the security situation in the region escalates, Ukraine continues to face challenges both domestically and along its border with Russia. The Ukrainian president vowed a strong response to a recent terrorist attack, and Russian air defense systems reportedly thwarted drone attacks on Russian territories. These developments underscore the ongoing tensions and vulnerabilities in the region.