Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived within the Netherlands after a go to to Sweden
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, is greeted by Dutch caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte in Eindhoven, Netherlands, Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023. The leaders met at a army air base within the southern Dutch metropolis, a day after Zelenskyy visited Sweden on his first overseas journey since attending a NATO summit in Lithuania final month. On Friday, the Netherlands and Denmark mentioned that the US had given its approval for the nations to ship F-16s to Ukraine. (AP Picture/Peter Dejong)
The Related Press
EINDHOVEN, Netherlands — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived within the Netherlands on Sunday, two days after the nation mentioned the US had given its approval for Dutch and Danish authorities to ship F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine‘s air pressure.
Zelenskyy is assembly Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte at a army air base within the southern metropolis of Eindhoven. The Ukrainian chief was in Sweden a day earlier.
The U.S. approval Friday for the Netherlands and Denmark to ship American-made F-16s to Ukraine was seen as a significant increase for Kyiv, despite the fact that the fighter jets received’t have an effect any time quickly on the virtually 18-month warfare.
Ukraine has lengthy pleaded for the delicate fighter to provide it a fight edge. It not too long ago launched a long-anticipated counteroffensive in opposition to the Kremlin’s forces with out air cowl, inserting its troops on the mercy of Russian aviation and artillery.
The Dutch and Danish governments are additionally concerned in a coalition that’s working to coach Ukrainian pilots to fly the superior fighter jets.
Danish Protection Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen mentioned Friday that the coaching of Ukrainian pilots is beginning this month. Officers have beforehand mentioned that Ukrainian pilots will want six to eight months of coaching.
Washington says the F-16s — just like the superior U.S. Abrams tanks — will likely be essential in the long run as Kyiv faces down Russia.
Ukraine has been counting on older plane, comparable to Russian-made MiG29 and Sukhoi jets. F-16s have newer know-how and concentrating on capabilities. They’re additionally extra versatile, specialists say.
In a video message earlier Sunday, Zelenskyy vowed a stern retaliation to a Russian missile strike the day prior to this within the heart of the northern Ukrainian metropolis of Chernihiv that killed seven individuals and wounded over 100 others.
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Comply with AP’s protection of the warfare in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
