Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen announced that Ukraine could utilize Danish-supplied F-16s to hit military targets within Russian territory, ensuring this action aligns with the rules of war. Speaking on May 30 in Brussels, Rasmussen emphasized that as long as these strikes were directed at military installations, they remained within the bounds of international law.
In July 2023, Denmark and the Netherlands established a “fighter coalition” for Ukraine, promising to deliver F-16s and providing essential training for Ukrainian pilots and technicians.
This decision is part of a larger Western debate about lifting restrictions on the use of Western weapons on Russian soil. Despite concerns from Washington and Berlin, Rasmussen clarified that this initiative isn’t a “blank check” for Ukraine to conduct indiscriminate attacks; it’s intended to diminish Russia’s offensive capabilities.
On the other hand, Russian Ambassador to Denmark, Vladimir Barbin, cautioned that Ukraine’s use of Danish weapons on Russian territory might trigger an uncontrolled escalation of the conflict. Nevertheless, Denmark and several other nations back lifting these restrictions, insisting that Ukraine must be able to defend itself against assaults.
Currently, eleven Western countries, including France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Canada, have agreed to permit Ukraine to target military installations within Russian territory using their arms.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has now endorsed Ukraine’s use of Western weapons to target Russian territory, as confirmed by a source speaking to Politico.
This marks a significant shift in Scholz’s stance over the past few days. As recently as May 28, the German leader asserted that there was no justification to expand the use of Western arms in the Ukrainian conflict. He highlighted that “clear rules for the supply of German weapons to Kyiv” had been established and agreed upon with Ukraine, and these rules were already in effect.
Scholz has consistently emphasized that his policy goal in Ukraine is “to prevent the conflict from escalating into a much larger war.”
However, after discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron, who encouraged him to permit the use of Western weapons against Russian military bases on Russian soil, Scholz reconsidered his position. He indicated that Ukraine could use the supplied weapons “within international law.” This, as noted by Politico, allows their use against an aggressor, specifically Russia.
The Danish F-16s, part of the Royal Danish Air Force’s fleet, are variants of the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon—a multirole fighter jet originally developed by the United States. Since their acquisition in the 1980s, these aircraft have been pivotal in Denmark’s air defense strategy.
Renowned for their versatility and advanced avionics, the F-16s boast a frameless bubble canopy for superior visibility, a side-mounted control stick to ease piloting during high g-forces, and a seat reclined at 30 degrees to help reduce g-force effects on the pilot. Equipped with sophisticated radar systems and advanced targeting pods, these jets can carry a variety of weapons, including air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, along with precision-guided munitions.
Danish F-16s are powered by either a Pratt & Whitney F100 or General Electric F110 turbofan engine. These engines help the aircraft achieve a top speed of over Mach 2—roughly 1,500 mph or 2,414 km/h at altitude. The afterburner capability ensures rapid acceleration and enhanced performance during combat situations.
The operational range of an F-16 varies with the mission profile and payload. With internal fuel, the aircraft has a combat radius of about 340 miles [550 kilometers] on a high-low-high mission. However, with external fuel tanks and aerial refueling, this range can be significantly extended, enabling long-range strikes or prolonged patrol missions.
Earlier this week, Belgium’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced an important decision: the country will supply Ukraine with 30 F-16 fighter jets. Hadja Lahbib, head of the department, mentioned that the first planes are expected to arrive this year, coinciding with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Belgium. The entire delivery is slated to be completed by 2028.
With these 30 new F-16s, the total number of American aircraft committed to Ukraine reaches 85. Additionally, ten more jets will be dedicated to spare parts. This complements the at least 24 F-16A/Bs coming from the Netherlands, 19 F-16AM/BMs from Denmark, and 22 F-16AM/BMs from Norway.
This Belgian announcement is in line with another key update. The first group of Ukrainian pilots has completed their training in the United States and will continue further training in Europe before deploying the F-16s over Ukraine. Meanwhile, the Netherlands has successfully trained the first ten Ukrainians responsible for the ground support of these jets. Ukrainian pilots are receiving training in the USA, Denmark, and Romania.
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