Dutch government considering providing Ukraine with F-16 fighters

This was reported by NL Times. 

During a parliamentary debate, Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said that Dutch ministers would consider helping Ukraine.

Also in Davos, the Netherlands’ Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said that the country is ready to pay for Leopard 2 tanks that other countries are sending to Ukraine. 

"That is certainly something we are willing to do," Ollongren emphasized.

The Dutch Foreign Minister believes that "there is no taboo" on the supply of conventional equipment. MP Sjoerd Wimer Sjoerdsma urged the Cabinet of Ministers to deliver F16 fighter jets and armored personnel carriers to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. 

According to Hoekstra, the Netherlands sends only what Ukraine asks for. Kyiv needs mostly heavy weapons, and the country has long been asking for modern battle tanks.  

The Netherlands is ready to help pay for the tanks to be delivered to Ukraine, but the delivery must take place within the framework of a European or NATO coalition.

"We are waiting for Germany’s position on this, but I am in favor of trying to find a solution and sending tanks to Ukraine. Every time, we have shown that we are able, together, to provide Ukraine with what they need," Ollongren said.

• Earlier, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told US President Joe Biden that the Netherlands would offer Ukraine a Patriot anti-aircraft missile system following the US and Germany.
• On January 17, the Ukrainian military arrived at the US Army base, Oklahoma, to train on the Patriot air defense system.
• On December 21, 2022, the US announced its decision to transfer the Patriot air defense system to Ukraine. The Patriot air defense system is capable of shooting down cruise missiles, short-range ballistic missiles, and aircraft at a much higher altitude than the air defense systems previously provided to Ukraine.
• On January 19, the Dutch House of Representatives (lower house of parliament) supported the provision of the Patriot air defense system to Ukraine so it could defend against Russian missiles.