Dutch PM Says There's Nothing Taboo About F-16 Fighter Jets Before President Zelensky, Will They Be Sent to Ukraine?

JAKARTA - Talks about the possibility of donating F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine are progressing, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Thursday during the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to The Hague, but no decision has yet been taken.

Answering questions at a joint news conference with President Zelensky and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, PM Rutte said, "Regarding the F-16: there is no taboo," as quoted by Reuters, May 5.

"We are working with our partners, Belgium, other countries, UK, Denmark, to resolve that debate. We are not there yet," he said.

Earlier, President Zelensky repeated his request for the West to supply modern fighter jets to Kyiv earlier this week in Helsinki, Finland, adding he was "confident we will have aircraft soon".

Meanwhile, PM Rutte previously said the Netherlands would consider any kind of military support for Ukraine, as long as it does not trigger open conflict between NATO and Russia.

He said Thursday discussions over the F-16 would "take time" as did previous discussions over the donation of Leopard 2 tanks and armored howitzers.

"But currently the armored tanks are in Ukraine, (and) Leo 2 are being sent to Ukraine," he said.

"So we will work on this diligently, for the F-16s, and there is clearly support in parliament for this government to work on it," concluded PM Rutte.