Dutch Foreign Minister announces deployment of F-16s to Ukraine

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Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp announced during a visit to kyiv that the Netherlands would quickly deploy F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.

Ukraine says it hopes the planes will strengthen its air superiority against Russia and provide better defense for its troops and infrastructure.

On his first international trip as foreign minister, Veldkamp indicated that the Netherlands was ready to send the planes after the necessary export licences were recently issued.

“Now that we have received approval to deliver the first F-16s, they will be delivered without delay,” Veldkamp told reporters on Saturday.

Details of the trip were being kept confidential until Sunday for security reasons.

He did not give further details or specify the exact date when the first batch of the promised 24 F-16s would be delivered to Ukraine.

Read also: F-16 deliveries to Ukraine are not a miracle solution, says NATO chief

Veldkamp is part of a newly formed ruling coalition in which Geert Wilders’ far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) holds the largest share.

After being sworn in last week after lengthy negotiations, the new government and Wilders himself reiterated the Netherlands’ commitment to supporting Ukraine.

Ukraine prepares for F-16 arrival

Since the start of the war in February 2022, kyiv has been urgently requesting F-16 fighter jets.

Since then, several NATO members have pledged to send American-made aircraft, known for their precision and speed, and Ukrainian pilots have undergone intensive training in NATO countries in preparation for their deployment.

In May, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine needed about 130 F-16s to ensure air parity with Russia, but Western promises have fallen short of that number.

Russia has warned that targeting any F-16s or other Western military equipment sent to Ukraine would constitute legitimate targets.

Moreover, recent attacks on Ukrainian airbases by Russian forces have raised concerns about kyiv’s ability to protect its airfields before the F-16s arrive.

Read also: Moldova denies plans to receive F-16s bound for Ukraine