Russia warns of escalation after Denmark, Netherlands donate fighter jets to Ukraine
Russia on Monday condemned the decision by Denmark and the Netherlands to donate F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, warning that the move would escalate the conflict, Reuters reports.
The warning came after Denmark and the Netherlands announced on Sunday that they would deliver the first six F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by the end of this year.
Danish Defense Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen explained that the donation is conditional on the planes being used only on Ukrainian territory.
Denmark will supply Kiev with a total of 19 such aircraft. The Netherlands has a total of 42 F-16s, but has not yet decided whether to donate them all.
On Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the planes would strengthen Ukraine's air defences and help the counter-offensive against Russian forces.
Denmark and the Netherlands have already announced training for the Ukrainian pilots, in which they will be assisted by nine other countries. In July, acting defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen said training would begin in August at Skrydstrup in southern Jutland. According to plans, it will last at least six months.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the delivery of fighter jets to Ukraine "undermines efforts to resolve the conflict peacefully." The ministry also warned that the move could lead to "further destabilisation of the situation”.
The United States and other NATO allies have been providing Ukraine with military assistance since Russia invaded the country in February 2022. The Biden administration has said that it is considering providing Ukraine with fighter jets.
The delivery of fighter jets to Ukraine is a significant escalation of the conflict. It remains to be seen how Russia will respond to the move.
