Zelensky Thanks Denmark for Pledging F-16 Fighter Jets to Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Denmark for its assist in an tackle to the nation’s Parliament on Monday, a day after it turned one of many first nations to pledge F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.

The Netherlands and Denmark mentioned Sunday that they might donate dozens of F-16s to Ukraine in what Mr. Zelensky known as a “breakthrough” in his nation’s longstanding quest to accumulate the plane, which it considers crucial within the struggle towards Russia.

“When you defend people’s right to life, you are joined by others who value life,” Mr. Zelensky mentioned Monday throughout the tackle in Copenhagen. “And this makes you together invincible! I thank you, Denmark, for helping Ukraine to become invincible!”

The procurement of American-made F-16s to complement a fleet of Soviet-era jets has been a precedence for Mr. Zelensky’s authorities for months because it seeks a bonus over Russia’s air power and to enhance its personal air defenses. Ukrainian officers acknowledged final week, nevertheless, that NATO international locations wouldn’t donate the planes earlier than subsequent yr, which is just too late to be used in a counteroffensive the federal government in Kyiv launched this summer season.

President Biden, setting apart months of resistance, mentioned in May that NATO international locations might prepare Ukrainian pilots on F-16s, a monthslong course of, and on Thursday a U.S. official mentioned that the United States would permit allies to ship the jets.

Mr. Zelensky nodded on the prolonged course of to accumulate the jets, saying in his tackle on Monday that there “was a time when they said that this would never happen.”

“Solidarity turned into leadership. In particular, your leadership, Denmark,” he mentioned. “And it is leadership that multiplies our collective strength.”

Russia’s ambassador to Denmark, Vladimir Barbin, mentioned that the Danish determination would result in “an escalation of the conflict,” the Russian state news company Tass reported.

Mr. Zelensky’s journey to Denmark started on Sunday with a go to to an air power base in Jutland, the place he met with Ukrainian pilots being skilled on F-16s and Denmark’s Defense Ministry mentioned in an announcement that it could donate 19 of the jets to Ukraine.

He had traveled there from the Netherlands, the place Mr. Zelensky mentioned that the nation would donate 42 jets as soon as Ukrainian pilots and engineers had been skilled.

F-16s would improve Ukraine’s ground-launched air defenses, that are used to battle off Russian missile assaults, and will additionally act as a deterrent to Moscow in the long run as a result of they may erase its aerial superiority.

Ukraine can be pushing to acquire Swedish Gripen warplanes, and Mr. Zelensky mentioned throughout a go to to Sweden this weekend that it was “getting closer” to acquiring them. He additionally reached a extra tangible settlement on Saturday involving the provision of armored automobiles.

Sweden has to this point refused to ship Gripens to Ukraine, with officers saying that the jets — constructed by Saab — are wanted to defend its personal borders. Russia’s invasion prompted Sweden, and neighboring Finland, to use to hitch NATO. Finland has since grow to be a member of the alliance, however Sweden’s software has been held up by Turkey.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson of Sweden didn’t point out the fight planes throughout a news convention with Mr. Zelensky on Saturday. Ukraine has obtained Soviet-era jets from Poland and Slovakia.