'Confident That Russia Will Lose This War': Ukrainian Prez After Being Promised F-16 Jets

Denmark and Netherlands have promised to deliver F-16 jets to Ukraine to help them counter Russia's invasion. The Ukrainian President after this said it makes him confident that Russia will lose.

Ukrainian President Zelensky and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen sitting in an F-16 fighter jet in the hangar of the Skrydstrup Airbase in Vojens, Northern Denmark

Source : Getty

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelesnky addressed a crowd in Denmark on Monday where he told that the promised deliveries of US-made F-16 fighter jets made him confident that Russia will lose. He said that with these jets, Ukraine could end Russia's invasion. Denmark and Netherlands on Sunday announced that they would supply the first F-16s to Ukraine, six jets of this consignment are expected to be delivered by New Year. Washington approved the delivery of jets ahead of the Ukrainian President's trip to Copenhagen, reported news agency Reuters. 

Zelesnky while speaking outside the Danish parliament said, "Today we are confident that Russia will lose this war."

Danish Defence Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen on Monday said that Ukraine may only use the donated F-16s within the proximity of its own territory. He said, "We donate weapons under the condition that they are used to drive the enemy out of the territory of Ukraine. And no further than that. Those are the conditions, whether it's tanks, fighter planes or something else," reported Reuters.

Russia on the other hand had warned earlier that supplying jets to Ukraine would only escalate the war which has already been dragged on for around 18 months now. Russian ambassador Vladimir Barbin in a statement said, "The fact that Denmark has now decided to donate 19 F-16 aircraft to Ukraine leads to an escalation of the conflict. By hiding behind a premise that Ukraine itself must determine the conditions for peace, Denmark seeks with its actions and words to leave Ukraine with no other choice but to continue the military confrontation with Russia."

Ukraine's military has said that the jet was crucial to the success of its counteroffensive as it would prevent Russian fighter jets from attacking advancing forces. Ukrainian media quoted Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat as saying, "Superiority in the air is key to success on the ground."

Denmark has promised to deliver 19 jets in total. Netherlands has 42 F-16s available but it has yet to decide whether it will donate all of them or not. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has termed this decision as a 'breakthrough agreement'. Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said on Saturday that the Ukrainian pilots have started their training but it would take them at least six months and possibly longer to train engineers and mechanics as well, reported Reuters.