Netherlands Allows Ukraine to Use F-16s at Will to Counter Russia Invasion

KYIV – Netherlands, a NATO country and one of the main allies Ukraine, allowing Kyiv to use jet tempur F-16 at will to invade back deep into the territory Russia.

Permission to use Western weapons on Russian soil has been a major sticking point between Ukraine and its allies, with Kyiv claiming it could turn the tide in the war.

The Dutch statement could potentially be followed by other Ukrainian allies, easing restrictions on the use of Western weapons on Russian territory even further.

“We do not impose any restrictions on the use and range of the F-16, as long as the laws of war are respected,” Dutch Defense Chief Lieutenant General Onno Eichelsheim told Dutch media; NOSwhich was published on Thursday.

“Ukraine can use the resources we provide as it wishes, provided that the humanitarian laws of war are observed,” the general was quoted as saying. NewsweekFriday (30/8/2024).

The Netherlands has been a generous provider of materiel to Ukraine’s war effort, so far pledging 24 US-made F-16s to Kyiv, although Eichelsheim would not confirm how many of these have been delivered to the front lines.

Speaking to NOS during a visit to Washington DC, Eichelsheim said the US partly agreed with his country’s position on Ukraine’s use of Western weaponry, although Washington maintained a tougher public stance on the issue.

“They have different constraints, but they have also supplied different weapons systems,” Eichelsheim said.
“However, we have the same goal to make sure that Ukraine wins the war. I think we are doing everything we can to make that happen.”

Eichelsheim, the country’s highest-ranking military figure, also praised Ukraine’s ongoing offensive at Kursk as “brilliant”, and told NOS: “They have taken over a large area quite quickly in a good way, with new techniques. In doing so, they have created a dilemma for [Presiden Rusia Vladimir] Putin.”