Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meeting Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Sunday. Photo Courtesy: Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte Twitter page
Hague: Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Sunday confirmed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the Netherlands will deliver F-16 fighters to Ukraine.
Zelensky visited the Netherlands on Sunday.
He met with Rutte at Eindhoven airbase, where they held a joint press conference.
It is unclear how many F-16 fighter jets will go to Ukraine.
Mark Rutte wrote on X: "In May the Netherlands announced that it would train Ukrainian military personnel for the deployment of F-16 aircraft. Today we can announce that the Netherlands and Denmark commit to transfer those F-16s to Ukraine as soon as the necessary conditions have been met. We are working in close cooperation with the US and our other international partners."
"This is a next step in our support for Ukraine. A long-term step, which sends a clear signal: that we will continue supporting Ukraine. With whatever it takes, for as long as it takes: military support, humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts," he said.
"Many thanks to President @ZelenskyyUa for visiting the Netherlands today. It was good to speak in person with him and foreign minister @DmytroKuleba at Eindhoven Air Base, together with foreign minister @WBHoekstra, @DefensieMin Kajsa Ollongren and foreign trade and development minister @LSchreinemacher," he said.
In May the Netherlands announced that it would train Ukrainian military personnel for the deployment of F-16 aircraft. Today we can announce that the Netherlands and Denmark commit to transfer those F-16s to Ukraine as soon as the necessary conditions have been met. We are… pic.twitter.com/2XeBlCFJR9
— Mark Rutte (@MinPres) August 20, 2023
Zelensky said the F-16s will instil fresh confidence and motivation in both warriors and ordinary citizens.
"F-16s will instill fresh confidence and motivation in both warriors and ordinary citizens. They will produce fresh results for Ukraine and the rest of Europe," Zelensky tweeted.
F-16s will instill fresh confidence and motivation in both warriors and ordinary citizens. They will produce fresh results for Ukraine and the rest of Europe.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 20, 2023
I thank you once again, dear @MinPres Mark, @Statsmin Mette, your teams, and the peoples of the Netherlands and Denmark. pic.twitter.com/ffSdtMHkfI
Zelensky later stated on the social media platform X that he expects the support of 42 Dutch F-16 fighter jets.
The Ukrainian leader said: "I thank you once again, dear @MinPres Mark,
@Statsmin Mette, your teams, and the peoples of the Netherlands and Denmark."