“Part of self-defense”: Denmark allows Ukraine to use F-16s to strike targets in Russia

Rasmussen made the statement to journalists on Thursday, May 30, in Brussels, reports European Pravda.

When asked by journalists whether Denmark would allow Ukraine to use F-16 fighter jets to strike targets in Russia, Rasmussen answered briefly.

“The short answer is yes,” the minister said.

He explained that this position is not new, it has been communicated a long time ago.

“This is not a new position, it is part of the transfer. We made it clear from the very beginning when we discussed this with our Foreign Affairs Committee in the Danish Parliament that this is part of self-defence so that it would also be possible to attack military targets on the aggressor's territory,” the Danish Foreign Minister emphasized.

F-16 fighter jets for Ukraine

On May 21, US President Joe Biden approved the training of Ukrainians on F-16s. Volodymyr Zelenskyy assured that Ukraine would not use these aircraft to strike at Russian territory. 

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba says that the first F-16 fighter jets are likely to fly in Ukraine's skies by the end of March 2024.

On August 17, the United States approved the shipment of F-16 multi-role fighters to Ukraine.

At the same time, Denmark said it would supply Ukraine with the aircraft if they were not used in Russia. 

The Netherlands will provide 42 fighter jets. At the same time, Norway will provide Ukraine with F-16s, but the exact number is unknown.

On September 15, Belgium joined the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16s. Earlier, the Belgian Defense Ministry said it would not provide Ukraine with F-16 fighters because they are outdated and in poor condition. Such aircraft are dangerous to operate.

On October 11, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said that the country would be able to deliver the first F-16s to Ukraine in March-April 2024.

On October 12, the media reported that the Netherlands would send F-16s to Romania, where Ukrainian pilots would begin training in a few weeks.

On October 26, Ukrainian pilots began flight training on F-16s at an air base in Arizona, USA.

On November 1, the Pentagon said that the training in Arizona could last from 5 to 9 months.

In early January 2024, Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Patrick Ryder said that Ukrainian pilots would complete training on F-16 fighter jets this year.

On February 21, it became known that the first group of four Ukrainian pilots plans to complete training on F-16 fighter jets by the summer of 2024.

On March 18, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis approved the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets at the country's military base in Fătesti.

On March 22, it became known that the first 10 Ukrainian pilots had undergone basic training on F-16 fighter jets in the UK.

On March 29, the Belgian government approved a decision to allocate €100 million to Ukraine for the maintenance of F-16 fighter jets. Subsequently, they decided to deliver F-16s to Ukraine this year, but the exact timing is not yet known.

On May 1, the spokesman for the Air Force Command, Ilya Yevlash, said that the first F-16 multirole fighter jets will arrive in Ukraine after Easter, but there are no exact dates.