Netherlands secures permit to send F-16s to Ukraine; Zelenskyy thanks Rutte and Schoof

The Netherlands has obtained the necessary permits to export Dutch F-16s to Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense informed parliament on Monday. The first fighter jets will go to Ukraine soon. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked both former Prime Minister Mark Rutte and new Prime Minister Dick Schoof on social media.

The Netherlands promised to deliver 24 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, which desperately needs them against Russian air attacks. The Ministry will not publicly say when the jets will arrive but will inform parliament confidentially.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy thanked Rutte and the Netherlands for their efforts in helping Ukraine defend itself against Russia on his last day as Prime Minister and congratulated him on his appointment as the new Secretary General of NATO.

“I had a phone call with my friend, Mark Rutte. I sincerely thanked him for everything he, his government, and the people of the Netherlands have done for Ukraine,” Zelenskyy wrote. “We will continue to stay in touch as he assumes his new role as NATO Secretary General.”

Zelenskyy also congratulated Schoof on his new position as Dutch Prime Minister. “I greatly appreciate Dutch leadership in providing defense and other types of assistance, rallying international support for Ukraine, and working to ensure comprehensive accountability for Russian crimes,” he wrote. “I look forward to our continued active cooperation in strengthening the Ukrainian-Dutch partnership and restoring just peace and security throughout our Europe.”