NATO-member Norway is about to observe the Netherlands and Denmark’s footsteps to donate F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine to assist Kyiv in its struggle in opposition to Russia, Norwegian media stated Thursday.
The studies got here as Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store was visiting Kyiv on the eve of Ukraine’s Independence Day.
However, there was no official affirmation of the plan, which was reported by Norwegian broadcasters NRK and TV2.
Norway can be the third European nation after the Netherlands and Denmark to donate F-16 planes.
Ukraine has lengthy pleaded for stylish fighter jets to offer it a fight edge. It just lately launched a long-anticipated counteroffensive in opposition to the Kremlin’s forces with out air cowl, putting its troops on the mercy of Russian aviation and artillery.
In February, oil-rich Norway introduced that it’s donating 75 billion kroner ($7 billion) to Kyiv as a part of a five-year help package deal, making Norway one of many world’s greatest donors to Ukraine.
The cash can be cut up evenly between navy and humanitarian help over 5 years, damaged down to fifteen billion kroner ($1.4 billion) yearly.
On Thursday, Norway introduced it might donate anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine, saying ”air protection is vital to Ukraine’s means to guard each the civilian inhabitants and front-line infrastructure and navy items in opposition to any sort of Russian air assault.”
“This is likely one of the largest Norwegian donations of navy materials to Ukraine so far,” Gahr Støre stated in a press release.
The Norwegian authorities has lengthy stated it’s contemplating sending F-16s to Ukraine. In January, Norway acquired the primary of the 52 F-35s it has ordered. The new fighter jets are to exchange Norway’s fleet of F-16.
Last week, the Netherlands and Denmark introduced that they may donate F-16 plane. Denmark stated it is going to present 19 planes, whereas the Netherlands has not stated what number of planes it is going to donate.
Earlier this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy toured a number of European nations, together with the Netherlands and Denmark, however skipped Norway.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
