Netherlands on Monday will send the last batch of F-16s to Ukraine on Monday, to finalize the transfer of 24 fighter jets to the war-torn country.
Announcing the transfer on Sunday, Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said during a broadcast of WNL op Zondag that “all 24 promised fighter jets will soon be in Ukraine.” In his speech, Brekelmans also accused Russian leader Vladimir Putin Vladimir Putin of continuing “his aggressive war" and "has shown no intention of seriously considering a truce."
The Netherlands, along with Denmark, and Belgium have led an aviation coalition to provide Ukraine with much sought-after F-16 fighter jets to help Kyiv’s war efforts against Russia. The Netherlands authorized the transfer of 24 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine in July 2024. The first batch of these aircraft were delivered in August the same year, while the second batch was received in late 2024. Ukraine reported its first loss of F-16 fighter jets in a Russian attack on August 26 last year.
It addition to supply of F-16s, the Netherlands has also been training Ukrainian pilots and technicians as well as sharing NATO-aligned military doctrines in an effort to help modernize Ukrainian air forces in line with the NATO standards.
