When you are in the midst of a war, as the Ukrainians are currently, where they are being heavily pressed by Vladimir Putin and Russia, you need as much help as you can get.
Therefore, it is extremely unfortunate that the great assistance Ukraine was supposed to receive from Denmark has now been delayed by six months.
The delivery of Danish F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, originally scheduled for the end of 2023, has been delayed until the second quarter of 2024. This setback in Denmark's plan to provide military aid to Ukraine was reported by The Danish Ministry of Defense.
The ministry explained that the delay is due to specific prerequisites that need to be met, including the successful training of Ukrainian pilots and ensuring adequate logistics and infrastructure in Ukraine to maintain and service the jets. However, no further details were provided on these conditions.
Despite the delay, Denmark remains committed to its pledge, made in August and announced by the Prime Minister, to send a total of 19 F-16s to Kyiv. This commitment is part of a broader effort by allies to supply Ukraine with advanced weapons, supporting the country in its defense against Russia's invasion.
Additionally, Belgium and Norway have announced their contributions to the training of Ukrainian pilots. On January 4, RTBF reported that Belgium plans to send two F-16 fighter jets and about 50 personnel to Denmark from March to September 2024 for this purpose. Similarly, on January 3, Norwegian Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram announced that Norway would send two F-16 fighter jets to assist in training Ukrainian pilots on the U.S.-made aircraft in Denmark.
