THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The United States has given its approval for the Netherlands to ship F-16s to Ukraine, the Dutch protection minister stated Friday, in a significant acquire for Kyiv though the fighter jets received’t have a right away affect on the virtually 18-month struggle

“I welcome the US decision to clear the way for delivery of F-16 jets to Ukraine. It allows us to follow through on the training of Ukrainian pilots,” Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren stated in a message on X, previously generally known as Twitter. “We remain in close contact with European partners to decide on the next steps.”

Ukraine has lengthy pleaded for the delicate fighter to present it a fight edge. It lately launched a long-anticipated counteroffensive in opposition to the Kremlin’s forces with out air cowl, putting its troops on the mercy of Russian aviation and artillery.

Apart from delivering the warplanes, Ukraine’s allies additionally want to coach its pilots. Washington says the F-16s, just like the superior U.S. Abrams tanks, shall be essential in the long run as Kyiv faces down Russia.

The Netherlands is a part of a Western coalition that additionally contains Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden and the United Kingdom that in July pledged to coach Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16s.

Washington should give its blessing as a result of the planes are made within the United States.

Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra stated in a message on X that U.S. clearance to ship F-16s to Ukraine “marks a major milestone” in Ukraine’s protection.

It was not instantly clear when the primary F-16s might be delivered to Ukraine.

As effectively because the Netherlands, Denmark stated in June that coaching Ukrainian pilots had began and the nation was contemplating delivering jets to Kyiv, however that pilots would wish six to eight months of coaching earlier than a doable donation of plane can grow to be a actuality.

In an announcement to Danish media, Defense Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen stated that the federal government has a number of occasions stated {that a} donation was “a natural step after the training.”

Meanwhile, Russian air defenses stopped drone assaults on central Moscow and on the nation’s ships within the Black Sea, officers stated Friday, blaming the tried strikes on Ukraine.

Defense programs shot down a Ukrainian drone over central Moscow early Friday and a few fragments fell on an exhibition middle, the Russian Defense Ministry stated in an announcement.

It stated the drone was shot down about 4 a.m. (0100 GMT) and there have been no accidents or fireplace brought on by the fragments.

However, flights have been briefly suspended in any respect 4 main Moscow airports.

Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated a number of the fragments fell on the grounds of the Expocentre, an exhibition advanced adjoining to the Moscow City industrial and workplace advanced that was hit twice by drones prior to now month.

The space is about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) west of the Kremlin. The protection ministry referred to as the newest incident “another terrorist attack by the Kyiv regime.”

Naval forces additionally destroyed a Ukrainian sea drone that tried an assault on Russian ships late Thursday within the Black Sea, about 240 kilometers (150 miles) southwest of Sevastopol, the ministry stated

The drone was taken out by fireplace from a patrol boat and a corvette, it stated.

It was not doable to confirm the claims.

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Heintz reported from Tallinn, Estonia.

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