Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte confirmed on December 22 during a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the Dutch government will prepare an initial 18 F-16 fighter jets for delivery to Ukraine, ISW reports.
Analysts point out that while Rutte did not specify the timeline for the delivery of the aircraft to Ukraine, a recent Estonian strategic document stated that the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and Belgium have already committed to donating F-16s to Ukraine "before the end of the year [2023]."
Read more: Ukraine’s Air Force Announced When F-16 Fighter Jets Will Appear in Ukraine
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte wrote on the X platform: "the delivery of F-16s is one of the most important elements of the agreements made on military support for Ukraine. Besides an export permit, a number of other criteria must also still be met before delivery can take place, including requirements for personnel and infrastructure. This decision confirms the Netherlands’ undiminished commitment to providing Ukraine with the support it needs to respond to the ongoing Russian aggression."
Earlier, In November, the Netherlands sent the first batch of its F-16s to a new training center for Ukrainian pilots and staff in Romania.
Denmark, Norway and Belgium have also announced they will send their US-made F-16 jets to Ukraine, after Washington in August greenlighted delivering them to help Kyiv repel russia once pilot training is completed.
Read more: Ukraine to Receive F-16 Fighter Jets from Belgium in 2025
