The F-16 fighters, whose deliveries have already begun as Anthony Blinken announced and the governments confirmed with their declaration Netherlands It is Denmark.
O Dick Soof (Prime Minister of the Netherlands) and his Danish counterpart Put Frederiksen in they said the process of transferring the F-16s is already underway after months pilot training but also political negotiations.
The two leaders stated that “Ukraine will have ready for business the F-16s this summer, and will be the first of about 85 fighters which the Allies pledged to supply to Kiev to “change its fortunes on the battlefield.”
The hope, the Guardian notes, is that these fighters will be able to “crush” Russian bombing raids by Russian warplanes, which operate up to 70km away from the front line.
The F-16 concession ends a long wait for Ukraine, whose president has been lobbying for at least 18 months take these Western fighters to young and old Soviet-style Ukrainian air force to take on Russia’s.
Hopes and question marks
“The F-16s will also be used to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses. I am sure they will help us better protect Ukrainians from brutal Russian attacks, such as the this week’s attack on the children’s hospital in Kiev“, said the Ukrainian president.
Norway and Belgium have also committed to supplying F-16s to Ukraine in the near future.
The question remains, however, to what extent Efficiently will be the F-16. This fighter was designed in the 1970s, and the critical point is how they will be hidden and protected when on the ground, at a time when Ukraine’s air defenses will be increasingly exposed in space.
The accession process is irreversible
In any case,today’s draft decision NATO member states are committed to supporting Ukraine on its “irreversible path” to joining the Alliance, while remaining ready to maintain open channels of communication with Moscow to avoid an escalation of the war.
The draft also calls China a crucial partner in Russia’s war effort in Ukraine and says Beijing continues to pose systemic challenges to Europe and its security.
“We continue to support (Ukraine) on its irreversible path towards full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership,” the 32 countries said in the joint statement, which has been finalized but will have to be formally adopted by the leaders, according to diplomatic sources, cited by AFP.
40 billion package
The draft also states that the Allies intend to give Ukraine 40 billion euros in military aid over at least the next year. But it does not mention it. NATO’s multi-year commitment to Kievas requested by the outgoing Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg.
The latter told reporters he expected the allies to agree on a “substantial” military aid package and at the same time that the summit would expand other NATO partnerships, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. This package will also include a new NATO command for Ukraine, which will provide assistance