Kyiv [Ukraine], August 22: The Russian side issued a warning after Denmark and the Netherlands pledged to provide dozens of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine with conditions.
Danish Defense Minister JakobEllemann-Jensen yesterday (August 21) announced that Ukraine can only use F-16 fighter jets donated by Denmark and the Netherlands on its territory. "We give weapons on the condition that they are used to drive the enemy out of Ukrainian territory and that's it," said Minister Ellemann-Jensen, according to the Ritzau news agency.
Meanwhile, Russian Ambassador to Denmark Vladimir Barbin on the same day condemned the decision of Denmark and the Netherlands to donate F-16s to Ukraine, saying the move would escalate the conflict, according to Ritzau. "By concealing the premise that it is Ukraine that must determine the conditions for peace, Denmark seeks by its actions and words to leave Ukraine with no choice but to continue military confrontation with Russia," Barbin warned.
Ukraine will receive more than 60 F-16s?
Ambassador Barbin issued the warning after Ukrainian President VolodymyrZelensky said he had received commitments from the Netherlands and Denmark to supply a total of 61 F-16s when he visited the two countries on August 20. "Mark Rutte and I have agreed on the number of F-16s to be supplied to Ukraine after training our pilots and engineers. 42 and this is just the beginning," Zelensky wrote on Telegram . after meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, according to The Kyiv Independent.
In the following press conference, Prime Minister Rutte said he wanted the F-16 training and the delivery of the US-made fighter to Ukraine as soon as possible, but did not specify the number. . The Dutch Air Force currently has a total of 42 F-16s, but is converting to the F-35 stealth fighter.
Meanwhile, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on the same day pledged to deliver 19 F-16s to Ukraine, of which the first six will be delivered by the end of the year, according to The Kyiv Independent . Frederiksen said Ukraine will receive eight more F-16s by 2024 and the remaining five by 2025.
Russian military "will adapt"
President Zelensky received commitments to provide F-16s from the Netherlands and Denmark after months of urging the West to send advanced fighters to the Ukrainian air force to counter Russian forces. Ukrainian officials argue that the F-16 will give the country's air force an advantage over Russia's larger and more advanced air force.
US Air Force Europe Commander James Hecker thinks the F-16 will be an improvement for the Ukrainian air force, but anyone who expects the F-16 will defeat Russia's top air defense systems in no time. When you go to war, you will be disappointed. Hecker and other US officials have said that the F-16 will have little effect on Ukraine right now, largely because anti-aircraft weapons are already widely deployed by both sides. Insiders.
In addition to anti-radar missiles, Ukrainian fighters use US-made guided bombs, which Russia responded with electronic warfare equipment. While the F-16 will allow Ukraine to make better use of those weapons, Hecker predicts the Russian military will continue to adapt and adjust its response.
Source: ThanhNien Newspaper