F 16 fighter jet/NATO press service photo
The Netherlands is set to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets later this year, announced Defence Minister Keesa Ollongren before a meeting of EU defense ministers in Brussels on January 31.
«Ukrainians are diligently working on this. It will happen this year. I’m sure of it, but I can’t provide a specific time and date right now», — Ollongren stated, as quoted by UNIAN.
It’s noteworthy that Assistant Secretary of Defence for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander also addressed the future delivery of F-16s to Ukraine. According to her, the Pentagon anticipates Ukraine achieving operational capability with F-16 fighters as early as 2024.
«We are collaborating as a coalition on aviation equipment and are committed to providing initial operational capability to Ukraine with its F-16 program in 2024», — she affirmed.