Ukraine Gets F-16 Air-to-Air Missile Boost From NATO Nation

The Netherlands will supply Ukraine with $80 million worth of support materials for F-16s as well as air-to-air missiles, in a boost to Ukraine’s air-defense capabilities.

The news was confirmed by Ukraine’s defense ministry today on X, formerly Twitter. The post detailed that: “Strengthening Ukraine’s air defense capabilities is our top priority, and we highly appreciate the support from the Netherlands,” adding: “The power of unity brings Victory closer!”

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The Netherlands is supplying €80 million worth of support materials for F-16s. In addition, our Dutch partners are providing air-to-air missiles.

Strengthening Ukraine’s air defense capabilities is our top priority, and we highly appreciate the support from the Netherlands.… pic.twitter.com/5Ivpwksl3J

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) September 6, 2024

Newsweek reached out to Ukraine’s defense ministry via email for further comment.

The Netherlands is one of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)’s 12 original founding members. Newsweek reached out to the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs via email for comment, which directed us to a post shared on X by Dick Schoof, the prime minister of the Netherlands, last week.

The post announced $221 in aid to Ukraine, a package that is “focused mainly on protecting and repairing the energy infrastructure and includes additional funding for humanitarian assistance.”

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Ukraine can count on the Netherlands’ continuing support and engagement. That was my message to President @ZelenskyyUa today in Zaporizhzhia.

It is incredible to see how Ukrainians are carrying on with their lives and keeping their country going, in a city just a few dozen… pic.twitter.com/xJMnxqs3IF

— Dick Schoof (@MinPres) September 2, 2024

The Netherlands’ support for Ukraine includes:

– Military equipment and training for Ukrainian soldiers.

– Justice for Ukraine: working to ensure that crimes do not go unpunished and that people who have suffered in the war receive compensation.

– Sanctions against Russia: making it harder for Russia to finance the war.

– Reconstruction: support to repair damage.

– Humanitarian aid: Helping organizations to provide emergency goods and ensure the availability of drinking water and medicine.

Earlier today, it was confirmed that Ukraine is set to receive a huge missile package from the United Kingdom, providing a major boost to its air-defense systems.

The package was confirmed by the U.K.’s defense secretary, John Healy, at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting at a U.S. Air Force base in Ramstein.

Ukraine will receive a $214 million missile package, which will include 650 Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMM) in addition to $395 million worth of artillery ammunition from the U.K.

The move comes as part of a new commitment from the U.K. to Ukraine, under the country’s Labor government, which is led by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and came into power in July.

This support from key NATO nations comes as the humanitarian toll of the Russia Ukraine War continues to rise. A recent missile strike on a Ukrainian military institute in the city of Poltava and a nearby hospital killed 55 people, with 328 wounded, according to Ukraine’s interior ministry.

Ukraine launched a surprise incursion into Russia’s Kursk Oblast region on August 6 and is continuing to make headway beyond Russian borders. This move has been condemned by Moscow, which has also criticized support for the incursion from the West and NATO nations.

Maria Zakharova, Russia’s director of the foreign ministry press department warned of a painful response after NATO backed the Kursk incursion.

“We would like to warn such irresponsible political in the EU, NATO and overseas that in the event of corresponding aggressive steps by the Kiev regime, Russia’s response will follow immediately… and will be extremely painful,” Zakharova said on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum.

Newsweek has reached out to the Kremlin via email for comment.

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