Ukraine may use the F-16 fighter jets provided by the Netherlands within Russian airspace, said Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans during a NATO Defense Ministers' meeting in Brussels on October 17.
“We delivered our first batch of F-16s, which are now in Ukrainian airspace. We have always said that Ukraine must adhere to international law,” Brekelmans told reporters.
“International law does not stop at the border or 100 kilometers from it. Therefore, we permit Ukraine to use F-16s for self-defense,” Brekelmans explained, suggesting the aircraft could be used to intercept missiles or strike military targets, including Russian airbases.
Brekelmans stated that Ukraine’s use of F-16s for military operations within Russia or its airspace complies with international law.
He also added that supporting Ukraine is a top priority for the Netherlands, citing his recent visit to Kharkiv and Kyiv, where he witnessed the challenging conditions at the front lines and in major cities.
“We need to ramp up our efforts to support Ukraine. Additionally, we must discuss strengthening our defense and deterrence because the Russian threat is only increasing, not just in the short term but also in the long run,” Brekelmans concluded.
Earlier, Russian military blogger claimed that a Ukrainian F-16 may have shot down a Russian Su-34 fighter jet, potentially marking the first confirmed instance of Ukraine using a Western-supplied aircraft to down a Russian piloted jet.
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