Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed Sunday a “historic” choice by the Netherlands and Denmark to offer American F-16 fighter jets, the newest transfer by Western allies to bolster his nation’s efforts to fend off Russia’s invasion.
Zelensky had sought the superior jets for months to strengthen Ukraine’s Soviet-era air power because it pursues a grinding counteroffensive towards Russian forces within the east.
Washington introduced its approval of the F-16 transfers on Friday, with coaching of Ukraine pilots set to start this month, which can enable Ukraine to start deploying the jets in early 2024.
The choice is “absolutely historic, powerful and inspiring for us”, Zelensky mentioned alongside Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte throughout a go to to the Eindhoven air power base within the Netherlands.
Rutte mentioned the variety of F-16s supplied to Kyiv had not been decided, however Zelensky mentioned in a later assertion that “Our warriors will receive 42 great combat aircraft”.
Zelensky then travelled to Denmark’s Skrydstrup air power base and was greeted by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who mentioned “We also know that you need more, and that is why today we announced that we will donate 19 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine”.
Six of the jets might be delivered by the top of this yr, eight subsequent yr and 5 in 2025, she mentioned.
“This is a very powerful support for us — training missions are already starting,” Zelensky mentioned.
“We are doing our best to get even more results for Ukraine,” he added. “In particular, today we discussed the expansion of training missions.”
In a separate assertion, Zelensky thanked the US, which has strict guidelines on the sale or switch of American navy tools by its allies.
“I also thank President Joseph Biden, both parties in the US Congress, and the entire American people for their unwavering support and continuously positive steps for the aviation coalition and for the benefit of our common freedom,” he mentioned.
The long-sought approval to provide the jets drew a warning from Russia.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov mentioned that Moscow would take into account the F-16s a “nuclear” menace due to their capability to hold atomic weapons.
Russia additionally introduced that it prevented Ukrainian drone assaults on Moscow and its area on Sunday, the second such incident in two days.
Both sides have reported common drone incursions through the battle, with strikes on Russian territory turning into more and more common.
“At around 4:00 am (0100 GMT), an attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack by drone on infrastructure in Moscow and the Moscow region was thwarted,” the Russian defence ministry mentioned.
The Moscow-bound drone was destroyed by “electronic warfare” and crashed into an uninhabited space after dropping management, the ministry mentioned, reporting no victims or injury.
But a Ukrainian drone raid hit a railway station within the western Russian metropolis of Kursk, injuring 5 folks, the regional governor mentioned early Sunday.
In the southern area of Rostov that borders Ukraine, Russian air defence intercepted two Ukrainian drones, its governor mentioned.
On Saturday, a Russian assault struck the northern Ukrainian metropolis of Chernihiv, with the regional governor saying Sunday that seven folks had been killed and 148 injured.
Zelensky vowed “a tangible answer” to the assault, which got here as residents attended morning church companies through the Orthodox vacation of the Transfiguration of the Lord. The president famous {that a} six-year-old woman was among the many victims.
Denise Brown, UN humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine, mentioned it was “heinous to attack the main square of a large city, in the morning, while people are out walking, some going to church to celebrate a religious day for many Ukrainians”.
Chernihiv, 150 kilometres (90 miles) north of Kyiv, had largely been spared from main assaults for the reason that first months of Russia’s invasion launched in February 2022, as fierce combating rages within the east and south.
Ukraine launched a counteroffensive within the east and south in June however has come up towards fierce resistance from entrenched Russian forces.
Also Sunday, supporters of the jailed Russian opposition chief Alexei Navalny held so-called “Putin is a Killer” rallies worldwide to mark three years since a poisoning assault on the anti-corruption activist, which he blames on the Kremlin.
Carrying indicators with slogans equivalent to “Freedom for political prisoners” and “Russia get out of Ukraine”, just a few dozen folks protested in entrance of the Russian embassy in Warsaw, whereas others staged demonstrations in cities together with Brussels, Prague, London and Tallinn.
Source: www.anews.com.tr
