US Allows Denmark to Supply F-16 Fighters to Ukraine

Introduction

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen confirmed that Copenhagen has received US permission to supply Kyiv with F-16 fighters after Ukrainian pilots have completed training on them.

Confirmation from Rasmussen

Rasmussen said in an interview with Danish Radio: “I can confirm my correspondence with the Secretary of Defense and with the United States about available alternatives and we have received a friendly letter from Foreign Secretary Anthony Blinken in which we have a number of alternatives to work with.”, which means that there is no longer a barrier to sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.

Transfer of F-16 Aircraft

Earlier, Reuters, citing an unnamed American source, reported that the United States agreed to transfer fourth-generation F-16 aircraft from Denmark and the Netherlands to Ukraine after Ukrainian pilots had completed training on them.

Training for Ukrainian Pilots

And Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently said that training for Ukrainian pilots would begin this month and according to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, the training program would take at least 6 months and it could take place in Denmark or the Netherlands while they expect the pilots to be able to lift “F-16” in the sky over Ukraine by the spring of 2024.

Russian Concerns

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has previously pointed out that the US and its dependent NATO allies pose the risk of a direct armed clash with Russia, with catastrophic consequences. He added that the acquisition by Kiev of aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons, Russia will consider a Western nuclear threat to it.

Source

Source: RT