Donate F-16 To Ukraine, Danish Defense Minister: Used To Expel Enemy And Nothing More, That's The Condition!

President Zelensky stood in front of the F-16 fighter jet during a visit to Denmark. (Source: President.gov.ua)

JAKARTA - President Volodymyr said Ukraine would receive F-16 fighter jets from the Netherlands and Denmark, while one of Copenhagen's senior officials said the aid was provided on condition that it was only used to expel enemies within Ukrainian territory.

Denmark promised about 19 units of F-16 fighter jets, which can be delivered around the end of the year, when pilot training lasted four to six months is complete. The Netherlands has 42 units of F-16 fighter jets available, but has not yet decided whether everything will be donated. However, it took longer to prepare the Ukrainian squadron in combat.

Danish Defense Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen said on Monday Ukraine would only be allowed to use the F-16s donated by Denmark and the Netherlands on its own territory.

On Sunday, Denmark and the Netherlands announced they would supply the F-16 to Ukraine, with the first six units to be delivered around the new year.

"We donated weapons on condition that they were used to expel enemies from Ukrainian territory. And nothing more than that," said Ellemann-Jensen Minister, as reported by The National News on August 21.

"That's the condition, whether it's tanks, fighter planes or something else," he said.

Earlier, arriving in Copenhagen, Denmark on Sunday, President Zelensky in his speech was grateful for Denmark's willingness to send its fighter jets to Ukraine.

On that occasion, President Zelensky again warned that other European territories would face the risk of Russian military aggression if Moscow's invasion of Ukraine succeeds.

"All Russian neighbors are threatened if Ukraine doesn't win," he said.

It is known that the Ukrainian armed forces are still using old Soviet-era warplanes. On the other hand, the lack of adequate air support is the biggest obstacle to the progress of retaliatory attacks on Russian troop positions. On Telegram, President Zelensky said total Ukraine would receive about 42 fighter jets.

This shipment cannot be separated from Washington's announcement of agreeing to an F-16 transfer to Kyiv last Friday, with training set to begin this month, allowing Kyiv to start using the jet in early 2024.