The United States has granted its authorization for the Netherlands to supply F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, as announced by the Dutch defense minister on Friday. This approval is a substantial victory for Kyiv, although the immediate impact of these fighter jets on the ongoing 18-month conflict is limited.
Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren expressed her support for the US decision via X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. Ollongren stated, “I welcome the US decision to clear the way for delivery of F-16 jets to Ukraine. It allows us to follow through on the training of Ukrainian pilots. We remain in close contact with European partners to decide on the next steps.”
Ukraine has long sought access to these advanced fighter aircraft to bolster its combat capabilities. Recently, Kyiv launched a highly anticipated counteroffensive against Russian forces without air cover, leaving its troops vulnerable to Russian aviation and artillery attacks.
In addition to delivering the F-16s, Ukraine’s allies need to provide pilot training. Washington has emphasized the long-term importance of the F-16s, along with advanced US Abrams tanks, to Ukraine’s defense strategy against Russia.
The Netherlands is part of a Western coalition, including countries like Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, which pledged in July to train Ukrainian pilots for F-16 operation.
However, since the aircraft are manufactured in the United States, US approval is required before their delivery. Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra acknowledged the significance of this US clearance, stating that it is a significant milestone for Ukraine’s defense.
The timeline for the initial delivery of F-16s to Ukraine remains uncertain. Denmark, another member of the coalition, began pilot training in June and is considering the delivery of jets to Kyiv. However, pilots require six to eight months of training before potential aircraft donations can be actualized.
Meanwhile, Russian authorities reported that their air defenses thwarted drone attacks on central Moscow and Russian Black Sea Fleet ships, attributing the attempted strikes to Ukraine. The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed the interception of a Ukrainian drone over central Moscow and the destruction of a Ukrainian sea drone targeting Russian ships in the Black Sea.
