- Ukraine receives first F-16 fighter jets from the US
- Zelensky expressed gratitude to allies for providing the aircraft, which they had initially been reluctant to send
- Zelensky did not reveal the exact number of jets that had arrived or the contributing countries but Denmark, the Netherlands, and the U.S. for their support
- NATO countries have promised around 65 F-16s since August 2023
Ukraine receives first F-16 fighter jets from the US
Ukraine has received its first American-made F-16 fighter jets, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced during a ceremony at an undisclosed airbase. Standing beside two of the jets, Zelensky expressed gratitude to allies for providing the aircraft, which they had initially been reluctant to send. He emphasised that while these jets significantly enhance Ukraine’s air force, which mostly uses outdated Soviet-era planes, more F-16s are still needed.
Zelensky did not reveal the exact number of jets that had arrived or the contributing countries, although he thanked Denmark, the Netherlands, and the U.S. for their support. NATO countries have promised around 65 F-16s since August 2023, following approval from U.S. President Joe Biden. However, Ukraine still requires more trained pilots to fully utilise the new aircraft.