USA approves supply of F-16s from Denmark and Netherlands to Ukraine

The United States has officially approved the supply of American F-16 fighter jets from Denmark and the Netherlands to Ukraine after the training of Ukrainian pilots is completed. 

Source: Reuters with reference to an unnamed American official

Details: Washington has given official assurances to Denmark and the Netherlands that the US will speed up the approval of all necessary third-party requests for the supply of F-16s to Ukraine so that it can receive the fighters when the pilots are trained, the newspaper writes.

Denmark and the Netherlands, which lead the aviation coalition, recently sent a request to the United States to provide appropriate guarantees.

A Reuters source said Secretary of State Anthony Blinken had sent letters to his Danish and Dutch counterparts assuring them the requests would be approved.

"I am writing to express the United States’ full support for both the transfer of F-16 fighter aircraft to Ukraine and for the training of Ukrainian pilots by qualified F-16 instructors," says Blinken's letter, a copy of which was seen by Reuters. 

Blinken mentions that approving the third-party requests will allow Ukraine to take "full advantage of its new capabilities as soon as the first set of pilots complete their training."

Background: 

• Earlier, The Washington Post, citing Ukrainian, European and American officials and military personnel, wrote that Ukraine will probably be without F-16 pilots for another year.
• The New York Times believes that Ukraine can prevail in its counteroffensive without the F-16s, and their presence would not have a decisive impact on the situation on the battlefield.
• Recently, Colonel Yurii Ihnat, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force, said that Ukraine will not be able to protect its skies with US-made F-16 fighters in the coming autumn and winter.

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