Netherlands to Complete Delivery of 24 F-16 Fighters to Ukraine on May 26th
The Netherlands is set to complete the delivery of 24 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine on Monday, May 26, as Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans confirmed. This final transfer will conclude the commitment made earlier by the Dutch government to bolster Kyiv's defense capabilities.
The upcoming delivery marks the official handover of the final batch of promised fighter jets to Ukraine, according to Brekelmans. Alongside this, the Netherlands has been providing training to Ukrainian pilots and technicians and sharing NATO-aligned military doctrines, with the aim of helping Ukraine develop a modern air force aligning with the standards of NATO member states.
Brekelmans also highlighted the broader context of the ongoing conflict, stating that Vladimir Putin's aggression continues, and there is no indication that he is seriously contemplating a truce.
In October 2024, Ukraine received its first batch of Dutch F-16s, with another delivery following in February 2025. The flurry of support from the Dutch government was further underscored by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's announcement in March that another batch had been received.
[1] Reference from Ukrainska Pravda (accessed 26 May 2025)[2] Reference from WNL op Zondag (accessed 26 May 2025)[3] Reference from NetText (accessed 26 May 2025)[4] Reference from Associated Press (accessed 26 May 2025)
- The Dutch government's commitment to Ukraine's defense goes beyond the supply of fighter jets, as it has also provided training for Ukrainian pilots and shared NATO military doctrines, according to reports from Ukrainska Pravda.
- In addition to the military aid, the Netherlands has been advocating for improvements in Ukraine's health sector, as evidenced by their financial support to Ukrainian hospitals, mentioned in an article from WNL op Zondag.
- The Dutch industry has also shown support for Ukraine, with several Dutch companies contributing to Ukraine's reconstruction efforts as pointed out in a report from NetText.
- Meanwhile, the Dutch government's stance on war-and-conflicts and politics has been highlighted in general news, with the Netherlands being one of the countries that have imposed sanctions on Russia in response to its aggression towards Ukraine, as reported by the Associated Press.
