Netherlands allows Ukraine to use F-16s for strikes against Russia

Politico reported the information.

Ollongren emphasized that the Netherlands would not impose restrictions on Ukraine regarding future F-16s, as in the case of Belgium. At the time, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo warned Ukraine against flying the fighter jets that Kyiv would receive from his country in Russian airspace.

“There is not a Belgian-style restriction. We are applying the same principle that we have applied to every other delivery of capabilities, which is once we hand it over to Ukraine, it’s theirs to use," she said.

At the same time, she emphasized that Amsterdam asks Kyiv to comply with international law and the right to self-defense, as stated in the UN Charter.

This means that they will use it to hit military targets that they need for self-defense.

Which countries allowed Ukraine to use its weapons to strike at the territory of Russia

On May 2, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said that Ukraine has the right to use British weapons to strike at Russian territory. In response, Russia threatened to strike at UK military facilities.

On May 26, Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson said that Ukraine could use weapons provided by Stockholm to hit targets in Russia.

On May 27, the Parliamentary Assembly of the North Atlantic Alliance called on the governments of all NATO member states to allow Ukraine to use Western weapons to strike at Russian targets.

Later, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine has the right to strike military targets in Russia.

Subsequently, Polish Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk said that his country supports Ukraine's right to use Western weapons to strike targets in Russia.

Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Estonia, the Czech Republic, and Finland also gave permission to use their weapons outside Ukraine.

On May 29, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said that the country had not set any conditions for the use of weapons when providing Kyiv with them.

At the same time, the United States continues to restrict Ukraine's ability to use the weapons it has been given.

On May 30, Norway said that Western countries should allow Ukraine to use their weapons on Russian territory to speed up Kyiv's victory.

On the same day, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said that Ukraine would be able to use Danish F-16 fighter jets to strike military targets in Russia.

On May 30, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský said that his country "has no problems" with Kyiv's use of ammunition provided by Prague to strike at Russian territory.

Latvia does not impose any restrictions on the use of its weapons for strikes on Russian territory, but does not discuss sending troops to Ukraine.

On May 31, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that President Joe Biden had secretly authorized Ukraine to strike targets in Russia with US weapons. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the message came from the United States and called the ally's action a "step forward." 

On June 2, France said that since Ukraine had not initially received restrictions on the use of its Storm Shadow missiles, it could fire them at Russian territory.