AMSTERDAM: Negotiations on a potential donation of F-16 fighter jets to Kyiv are progressing, Netherlands Prime Minister said on Thursday during a trip by the Ukrainian President to the Hague, but no final decision has been taken.
According to Reuters, replying to a question from media persons alongside President Zelenskiy and Belgian PM Alexander De Croo, Rutte said, “On the F-16’s fighter jets: no taboos.”
Dutch Prime Minister
He said that they were working very closely with their partners, Belgium, the UK, and Denmark, on getting that discussion somehow to a final conclusion. He added, “We are not there yet,.”
Earlier this week in Finland, Zelenskiy repeated his requests for his Western partners in order to supply Ukraine with modern fighter jets and said he was “sure we will soon have fighter jets”.
Rutte earlier said the Netherlands would also consider any kind of military assistance for Ukraine as long as it would not trigger an open crisis between Russia and NATO.
He said on Thursday that talks on F-16s would “take time,” as did previous dialogue on donating Leopard tanks.
“The Leopard 2 tanks are being delivered to Kyiv,” he noted. ” So, we will also work on this thoroughly, on the F-16s jet fighters, and clearly, there is also support in the country’s parliament for this government to continue to work on that.”
