Netherlands to handle maintenance and spare parts for Ukraine's F-16s
Photo: The Netherlands will provide support for the maintenance of the F-16s (Getty Images)
The Netherlands will assist Ukraine with maintenance, spare parts, and ammunition for F-16 fighter jets. This is intended to strengthen Ukraine's air defense amid massive attacks on cities, according to Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten.
During a conversation with Zelenskyy, Jetten agrees that Ukraine's F-16s lack maintenance, spare parts, and ammunition. The Prime Minister assures that the Netherlands would help meet these needs.
"Further strengthening Ukraine’s air defense is literally a matter of life and death," Jetten emphasizes.
According to the Prime Minister, Russia is escalating its aggression, and this was evident again last weekend, particularly during the strikes on Kyiv. He is convinced that Moscow is deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure and the energy sector to render Ukrainian cities uninhabitable and destroy the economy this winter.
"We must not allow that to happen," Jetten writes.
He also adds that the Netherlands, together with its partners, is closely monitoring Russia's provocations against other countries.
Maintenance of the F-16s remains a sore point for Ukraine. In an interview with the Financial Times, Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that these fighter jets are successfully shooting down new Russian jet drones, but about half of the aircraft are stuck in Europe for extended periods undergoing repairs.
The US has covered part of these costs: Washington has signed a contract for the repair and maintenance of Ukrainian F-16s in Belgium, which will remain in effect until 2029.
