Supplying Kiev with F-16 jets is 'difficult': Danish PM

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News Agency
3 May 2023 23:30

The summit which was hosted in the Finnish capital, included Danish PM, Finnish President, Swedish PM, Norwegian PM, Icelandic PM, and Ukrainian President.

In this photo provided on Sunday, April 16, 2023, by South Korea Defense Ministry, U.S. F-16 fighter jets make a landing at the Gwangju Air Base in South Korea, Friday, April 14 (South Korea Defense Ministry via AP)

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, described the prospect of shipping F-16 jets to Ukraine as difficult noting that this initiative is still being discussed among allies, during the Nordic-Ukranian summit.

The summit which was hosted in the Finnish capital, included Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, Icelandic Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"When we talk about the fighters, that is the question we have been discussing for some time now. And it is still an issue that we talk about among allies. It is a difficult task, it is a difficult question, but it is still an ongoing discussion. And from today's perspective, we haven't closed it yet," Frederiksen told reporters at a press conference.

Back in early March, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said that the supply of F-16 fighter jets for Ukraine is still not considered by Washington and that the US stance on the matter has remained unchanged: noting that US President Joe Biden has ruled out multiple times Ukraine's request to be provided with F-16s.

In January, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki pointed out that Poland can hand over its F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine only in coordination with other NATO partners.