Washington gave Denmark and the Netherlands official confirmation it would swiftly approve their requests for the F-16 to be sent to Ukraine as soon as the pilots are trained, the Reuters news agency reported on Thursday night.
Any transfer of the US-made aircraft requires America’s approval, The Economist magazine noted.
Denmark and the Netherlands are leading a coalition of 11 countries, including Poland, that was due to start training Ukrainian pilots on the F-16s in Denmark this month, with a view to enabling Ukraine to obtain the aircraft for the war with Russia, Reuters reported.
In July, Denmark’s Defence Minister Troels Poulsen said Copenhagen hoped to see results from the training early next year.
On Wednesday, Ukraine Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat said on national television that Ukrainian forces would not be able to use F-16 fighter jets in their military operations against Russia in 2023, according to Reuters.
US gives full support for transfer of F-16s to Ukraine
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Washington’s decision to approve the transfer of F-16s to Ukraine in a letter to his Danish and Dutch counterparts, Britain’s The Guardian newspaper reported on Friday morning.
Blinken wrote: "I am writing to express the United States’ full support for both the transfer of F-16 fighter aircraft to Ukraine and for the training of Ukrainian pilots by qualified F-16 instructors.”
America’s top diplomat added: “It remains critical that Ukraine is able to defend itself against ongoing Russian aggression and violation of its sovereignty."
Blinken said the green light from the United States would enable Ukraine to take "full advantage of its new capabilities as soon as the first set of pilots complete their training," as cited by the Reuters news agency.
In May, US President Joe Biden told his Group of Seven (G7) counterparts at the bloc’s summit in Hiroshima, Japan, that the United States would allow allies to provide American-made F-16 and other advanced fighter jets to help Ukraine fight the Russian invasion, and would also train Ukrainian pilots to use the aircraft.
UK signs USD 115m air defence deals for Ukraine
Meanwhile, Britain has signed USD 115 million worth of contracts with arms makers to supply Ukraine with air defence systems, the Euromaidan Press website reported on Friday.
The largest of the three contracts is a USD 71 million deal with Norway’s Kongsberg for vehicle-mounted counter-drone systems, including the Cortex Typhon systems, according to British broadcaster Sky News.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.
Friday is day 541 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, Reuters, The Economist, The Guardian, Euromaidan Press, Sky News
