Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived at a Dutch air base in Eindhoven in the southern Netherlands on Sunday, two days after the United States gave the green light to deploy American F-16 fighter jets in Kiev.
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Mr Zelensky landed around 12:00 p.m. (10:00 GMT), a Dutch government spokeswoman told AFP. A confirmation and details of the delivery of the devices from the Netherlands to Ukraine are not yet known.
“We have arrived in the Netherlands with the First Lady and the team,” confirmed Mr. Zelenskyy on his Telegram account.
The F-16s, “for Ukraine, to protect our people from Russian terror,” are the main purpose of the visit, according to the Ukrainian president. “We’re getting stronger,” he added.
The two leaders are expected to meet in person before holding a joint press conference at 1:25 p.m. (11:25 GMT).
AFP
Ukraine, the Netherlands and Denmark on Friday welcomed the United States’ green light for the Netherlands and Denmark to send F-16 planes to Kiev once Ukrainian pilots are trained, “great news” for Kiev, which is facing a difficult counterattack leading offensive against the Russian army.
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, Kiev has relentlessly called for Western planes to combat Moscow’s currently vastly superior forces.
The United States has strict rules regarding the resale or transfer of American military equipment by allies.
It is not yet known when the Ukrainian pilots will complete their training.
Conducted by a coalition of 11 countries, that training was due to start this month, and officials said they hope the pilots will be ready in early 2024.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in July that the delivery of F-16 fighter jets was viewed by Moscow as a “nuclear” threat.
Although the supply of fighter jets should help Ukraine in the long term, the fact remains that its army cannot quickly benefit from it, even if its counter-offensive, launched in June, is intended to allow the recapture of all areas occupied by Russia so far only allowed the recapture of a handful Villages.
AFP
Ahead of his trip to the Netherlands, the Ukrainian president was in Sweden, his ally aspiring to join NATO, on Saturday.
Mr Zelenskyy’s visit to the Netherlands comes as aid workers continue their work on Sunday in the rubble of the center of Chernihiv in northern Ukraine, which was hit by a Russian missile the day before, killing at least seven and injuring more than 140 killed The attack was described as “abhorrent” by the United Nations.
A new Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow and its region was intercepted by the Russian army on Sunday.