Ukraine has just been gifted more United States-made warplanes. Denmark has given the warring nation additional F-16 fighter jets to aid in the conflict with Russia.
Denmark has committed to sending a total of nineteen F-16s to Ukraine after the U.S. allowed its NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) allies to provide Kiev with F-16s in the summer of 2023, with several Western countries helping to train Ukrainian pilots. According to media reports, Kiev is supposed to receive around 80 jets,
The Ukrainian ruler, Volodymyr Zelensky made the announcement about the F-16s on Saturday morning. Zelensky did not clarify how many of the advanced warplanes Kiev had received or whether they had already been deployed. Zelensky claimed, however, that “the aircraft from the first batch, provided by the Danish people, are already intercepting Russian missiles.”
“Now, our air shield has been further strengthened,” Zelensky wrote on X (formerly Twitter), thanking Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen for her continued support.
The second batch of F-16s from Denmark has arrived in Ukraine. This is an example of leadership in defending lives that sets Denmark apart.
The aircraft from the first batch, provided by the Danish people, are already intercepting Russian missiles, saving our people’s lives and…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 7, 2024
According to a report by RT, Kiev announced the arrival of the first batch of aircraft from Denmark and the Netherlands this August. The same month, however, Ukraine lost one of the jets, along with a veteran pilot who was killed in the crash. The exact cause of the incident remains unclear, with one version being friendly fire from one of the country’s US-made Patriot missiles. Following the loss, Zelensky fired his Air Force commander.
Moscow has denounced all of the Western arms shipments, warning that additional weapons donations to Ukraine will only prolong the conflict without changing the outcome. It has also been said that F-16 deliveries represent an escalation of hostilities between Russia and Ukraine’s Western allies.
Friendly Fire Fiasco: Ukrainian Army Shoots Down Its Own F-16 Jet, Pilot Killed
Western media reports have also seemingly agreed with Russia and warned that the F-16s won’t be a “game changer” on the battlefield because Ukraine still won’t have a decisive advantage over their Russian rivals.
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