Netherlands, a NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) member has given Ukraine the green light to use the fighter jets provided to strike Russia. This has been one of Russia’s red lines, and so far, the former Soviet Union has exercised restraint with the West.
Russia previously stated that simply supplying Ukraine with the fighter jets to begin with was a “nuclear threat.”
Russia: Supplying Ukraine With Warplanes Is A “Nuclear Threat”
At this point, it really does seem like the egotistical tyrants in the West are intentionally provoking Russia. Or, they think they can get away with it because Russia has not yet chosen to retaliate for the involvement in the war.
It is important to note that the Netherlands’ approach differs from that of Belgium, a partner in the so-called “F-16 coalition”, which has offered 30 fighter jets to Ukraine. Its Prime Minister Alexander De Croo maintains that any weapons supplied by his nation can only be used inside the territory claimed by Kiev as Ukrainian, including the aircraft, according to a report by RT.
“There is not” a Belgian-style restriction, Ollongren told Politico on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, as quoted on Monday. “We are applying the same principle that we have applied to every other delivery of capabilities, which is: once we hand it over to Ukraine, it’s theirs to use,” she explained. The Dutch government only requires its arms to be used in compliance with international law, the minister said.
Western nations continue to be involved in a proxy manner and have offered Ukrainian pilots training courses on how to operate the United States-designed fighter jets. The long-promised transfer of the aircraft to Kiev’s control may start within months, according to statements by coalition members.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said last week that Kiev could potentially use the 19 F-16s pledged by his government to weaken Moscow’s forces “by taking out military facilities on Russian territory.”
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