Denmark to allow Ukraine to strike targets in Russia with Danish-supplied F-16s

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen has announced that Ukraine will be allowed to use Danish-supplied F-16 fighter jets to strike military targets inside Russia.

The Danish foreign minister was answering the question of whether Copenhagen would allow Ukraine to use the F-16 fighter jets transferred by his country to strike targets on Russian territory.

"The short answer is yes," Rasmussen said.

"This is not a new position, it is part of the transfer. We made it clear from the very beginning when we discussed this with our Foreign Affairs Committee in the Danish Parliament that this is part of self-defence so that it would also be possible to attack military targets on the aggressor's territory," the minister explained.

Notably, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has recently stated that Ukraine will be able to use the F-16 fighter jets donated by his country on its territory.

The Evening Standard newspaper reported on 10 May, citing a "high-ranking military source", that Ukraine would receive the first F-16 fighter jets "within weeks".

A range of Western countries have formed a fighter jet coalition led by Denmark and the Netherlands to supply Kyiv with modern aircraft and to train pilots and support staff.

Norway and Belgium, among other countries, have announced their intention to provide Ukraine with F-16s, with the latter providing 30 fighter jets by 2028.