The F-16s are coming! Zelenskyy lands ‘landmark agreement’ with the Netherlands for 42 F-16s

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte have agreed that Amsterdam will send 42 F16s to Kyiv, Zelenskyy announced on Telegram on Aug. 20. 

“F-16. A Landmark Agreement. As of today, we have specifics. They will be in the Ukrainian skies. Thank you, Netherlands,” Zelenskyy said, accompanied by a joint selfie with Rutte, taken at the Eindhoven airbase.

Read also: Denmark, Netherlands, UK, US announce joint supply of air defense systems to Ukraine

During their meeting in the Netherlands on Aug. 20, they settled on the quantity of F-16s that will be provided to Ukraine following training for Ukrainian pilots and engineers. The deal encompasses 42 aircraft.

“And this is just the beginning,” Zelenskyy added.

He emphasized that this move will contribute to reinforcing Ukraine’s air defense capabilities.

Read also: F-16s unlikely to defend Ukraine’s airspace this fall, winter – air force spox

“Another step towards bolstering Ukraine’s aerial shield. The F-16s will serve as crucial assets to protect Ukrainian cities and villages from the threat of Russian terrorists,” the president wrote.

Recent reports indicated that the United States granted Denmark and the Netherlands permission to transfer F-16 fighters to Ukraine, a development later confirmed by the foreign ministries of both nations.

Ukrainian pilots are set to commence F-16 training by the end of this month, according to the Danish Ministry of Defense.

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