Ukraine has submitted an official application to the Netherlands for the supply of F-16 fighters. This was confirmed by the Minister of Defense of the Netherlands Kaisa Ollongren.
Earlier, the country’s authorities declared their readiness to provide their fighter jets to Ukraine if Kyiv asks for it.
At the end of January, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said at a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron that there had been no request from Ukraine to supply F-16s to the Netherlands. As long as it’s official.
However, as Minister Ollongren said on Friday, although Ukraine’s request is understandably difficult to fulfill.
It is important that F-16 fighters are part of the US defense system, so you need to get permission from the US government, the minister explained.
In addition, before the Ukrainian air force can use fighter jets, pilots will have to be trained to fly them and technicians to maintain these machines.
As reported, on February 8, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Wopke Hoekstra discussed military assistance to Ukraine, in particular, the supply of military aircraft.
I also raised the issue of the F-16. We continue our dialogue with the Netherlands and other countries regarding combat aircraft,” the head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said.
Earlier, Kuleba spoke about the work of the team of President Volodymyr Zelensky on providing Ukraine with the first squadron of foreign combat aircraft.
It doesn’t matter if it’s an American F-16, Swedish Grippen, French Mirage or Rafale, or Eurofighter. It is fundamental to open a position, remove the taboo and get the first squadron of aircraft, the minister noted.
Source: Racurs
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