Ukraine's F-16 Wish Comes True

It looks like Ukraine's [V]olodymyr [Z]elensky is getting his Christmas wish after all!

 

Two European NATO members, Denmark and Netherlands have announced they will gift 61 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine once pilot training has been satisfactorily completed. 

 

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said her country would provide 19 jets – six at the end of this year, eight more next year and the remaining five in 2025. At least that was what was reported.

 

Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime minister, did not put a number on his country’s donation, but said the Netherlands had 42 in its air force. The country was said to be in the process of replacing them all with more advanced US-made F-35s. 

 

For sure, [Z]elensky wants all forty-two planes! Again, it was [Z]elensky who had trumpeted he'll get the whole fleet.

 

On Saturday, Ukraine’s defence minister, Oleksii Reznikov, said on national television that pilot training had already begun. Rutte, however, said on Sunday that “military training will start in the very near future” – although it is possible Reznikov was referring to the English language lessons that are seen as prerequisite (re: “English Lessons” published August 08, 2023). 

 

With this latest commitment, the US and NATO demonstrate their persistent desire to escalate the war in Ukraine. 

 

Russia's Vladimir Putin should know there will be no end to hostilities any time soon. Methinks, it’s time for him to take the gloves off. He should abandon the Special Military Operation and declare war on Ukraine. And then, go all out to finish off the country!