* The Dutch agreed to provide the American made F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.
* About 18 fighter jets to be delivered.
* Zelensky says jets are necessary to overcome Russia.
The Dutch announced on Friday last week that they would deliver 18 F-16 fighter jets as part of Ukraine's aid against the invading forces of President Vladimir Putin. The Dutch prime minister Mark Ruette revealed on X in which he said he had informed President Vlodomyr Zelensky about his government's decesion. Both the government and military officials from both Kyiv and the United States have cited what they call a game changing potential that the F-16 fighter jets could bring to the Ukranian forces. This however comes after Ukraine had long sought after the jets but had beem shoved off till may last year when President Biden agreed that NATO allies could provide the jets to Ukraine as well as well teach their pilots how to fly them.
It should be noted that Netherlands and Denmark became the first two countries to pledge F16s to Ukraine before they were later joined by Belgium and Norway who pledged a similar donation of their F16s to Kyiv's forces with Romania opening up a military centre to train Ukrainian pilots on how to pilots how to fly F16s last month." The delivery of the F16s is the most important element of the agreements made on military support for Ukraine" Ruette said in his X message. The decision confirms Netherlands undiminished commitment to respond to the ongoing Russian aggression however Ruette didn't provide a special timeline within which the jets will be delivered but he noted that an export permit as well as other criteria must be first met before the F16s can be deployed to Ukraine.
Ukraine had been using the Soviet era MiG and Sukhoi aircrafts but military experts say that newer and more advanced F-16s would provide Zelensky's forces with a more considerable upgrade. The Ukrainian president thanked Netherlands for the job while adding that he discussed other developments related to the war with Ruette." I spoke with Minister President Ruette to thank him the Dutch government for its decesion to start preparing the initial 18 F-16 jets for delivery to Ukraine" the Ukrainian leader wrote. He also thanked the Netherlands for actively supporting the opening of of Ukraine's EU accesion talks and emphasized the importance of providing €50 billion in long term EU assistance for Ukraine as soon as possible.
Among other issues discussed also included frontline developments, the situation in the black sea and Ukraine's current military needs which included drones and air defence systems " We also discussed the next peace formula meeting and efforts to consolidate international support for the Ukrainian vision of peace" Zelensky added. With military advancement of the Russian forces, the F16s are believed to be a game changer for Ukraine who were this month forced out of Madvika town in blood battering fall back.
