Foreign
THE North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) member, Norway, will supply six F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.
The first is due to arrive by the end of the year, the government in Oslo confirmed on Wednesday.
“Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against air attacks is crucial in its battle against Russia,” Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said in a statement.
It has been known for some time that Norway intends to send F-16s to Ukraine as part of an international coalition.
However, the timing has so far been as unclear as the exact number of aircraft.
Even though several countries have pledged to deliver the US-built fighters, none are known to have yet arrived in Ukraine.
On the fringes of the NATO summit in Washington on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country hopes to receive its first F-16s this summer.
Ukraine, which has been under attack from Russia since February 2022, needs at least 128 fighter jets, Zelensky said.
According to the government, Norway decommissioned its F-16s in 2021 as part of the introduction of new F-35 fighter jets. Of the fighters withdrawn from service, 32 were sold to Romania.(dpa/NAN)
A.I
July 10, 2024 @ 18:26 GMT|
Tags: Jonas Gahr Støre NATO
