2024-03-21 08:34:21
The Netherlands is giving Ukraine 350 million euros in aid for the purchase of ammunition for F-16 fighters and modern reconnaissance drones, Dutch Defense Minister Kaisa Olongren announced today in Kyiv, as quoted by Reuters.
In an interview with Reuters at the end of her two-day visit to Ukraine, Olongren said she had arrived in the country to show solidarity and announce a new military aid package.
During a meeting of the Ramstein forum of Ukraine’s allies, Olongren said that 150 million euros of the allocated funds will finance the purchase of guided air-to-surface missiles for F-16 fighters, and the remaining 200 million euros will go to reconnaissance drones, the Dutch Ministry of Defense said in a statement.
The Netherlands has pledged $2 billion in military aid to Ukraine in 2024. A significant portion of the funds will go toward purchasing the ammunition and drones that Kiev so desperately needs on the front lines.
Denmark, the Netherlands and the United States are expected to deliver the first F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine this summer after organizing the training of Ukrainian pilots.
In Kiev, Olongren said the Danish planes would arrive first, but would be followed by the first Dutch planes later in the year, BTA reported.
“I am fully confident that we will start delivering F-16 fighters this summer … Denmark will be the first and we have a schedule … so in the second half of the year the Dutch F-16s will also arrive,” the minister assured.