Good news for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Western F-16 fighter jets will soon take off in Ukraine. Denmark and the Netherlands want to sponsor dozens of planes, but Copenhagen provides a delivery service – while Russia warns of an escalation.
Ukraine may only use the F-16 on its own territory. “We donate weapons on the condition that they are used to drive the enemy out of Ukraine. And no further than that,” said Danish Defense Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen.
“These are the conditions, whether it’s tanks, fighter jets or anything else,” the minister said, according to the Ritzau news agency. In a speech at the Danish parliament in Copenhagen on Monday, Zelenskyy stressed: “We are here today to thank you personally. Thank you all for helping us in our difficult fight for freedom, for helping in this war that Russia has brought to our country brought.”
On behalf of all Ukrainians, he wanted to thank Denmark for its solidarity and support, Zelenskyy said, before listing some of the Danish military assets, such as Leopard main battle tanks. “I thank Denmark for helping Ukraine become invincible,” he said.
Zelenskyj: Ukraine defends Europe’s democracies
At the same time, Zelenskyi once again underlined the importance of Ukraine for security in Europe. Russia wants to bring suffering beyond Ukraine to Europe and the world, he said. “All of Russia’s neighbors are under threat unless Ukraine wins.” Democracies can become targets of missiles, mercenaries and destabilization. “But Ukraine will win,” he said.
Denmark and the Netherlands had previously agreed to deliver dozens of F-16 fighter jets. According to Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, 19 will come from Denmark, the first at the turn of the year, and from the Netherlands, according to Ukrainian information, 42. However, according to the Dutch Ministry of Defense, only 24 of the 42 F-16 jets are currently operational. Together with the anti-aircraft guns already supplied by the West, Ukraine sees them as part of a protective shield against Russian attacks.
In NATO, a coalition led by Denmark and the Netherlands formed this summer to train Ukrainian pilots for the use of the F-16. Belgium and Norway are also considered possible suppliers of the American jets. Initially, however, the delivery of F-16s to the US, where the aircraft were developed, failed. Washington recently cleared the way for supplies from third countries.
Russia warns of escalation
It is not surprising that the criticism comes from Russia. The move will lead to further escalation of the conflict, Russian ambassador to Denmark Vladimir Barbin said, according to the Danish news agency Ritzau.
Political scientist Gerhard Mangott does not expect an escalation from F-16 deliveries. “It’s a fact that Russia doesn’t have many chances to escalate militarily — it already has,” Mangott said in “ZiB2” on Sunday night. An escalation that is not very likely, but at least possible in principle, would be the use of nuclear weapons, “but the delivery of Western warplanes would certainly not be a trigger for that”.
Source: Krone
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