COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — NATO-member Norway will donate F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, whose forces are embroiled in a tough counteroffensive in opposition to Russia, Norwegian media mentioned Thursday. The studies got here as Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre was visiting Kyiv.

There was no official affirmation of the plan, which was reported by Norwegian broadcasters NRK and TV2.

Norway can be the third European nation after the Netherlands and Denmark to donate F-16 planes.

Ukraine has lengthy pleaded for the delicate fighter jets to provide it a fight edge. It just 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.

In February, oil-rich Norway introduced that it's donating 75 billion kroner ($7 billion) to Kyiv as a part of a five-year assist package deal, making Norway one of many world’s greatest donors to Ukraine.

The cash shall be break up evenly between navy and humanitarian help over 5 years, damaged down to fifteen billion kroner ($1.4 billion) yearly.

On Thursday, Norway introduced it could donate anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine, saying ”air protection is crucial to Ukraine’s skill to guard each the civilian inhabitants and front-line infrastructure and navy models in opposition to any kind of Russian air assault.”

“This is one of the largest Norwegian donations of military material to Ukraine to date,” Gahr Støre mentioned in a press release.

The Norwegian authorities has lengthy mentioned it's contemplating sending F-16s to Ukraine. In January, Norway obtained the primary of the 52 F-35s it has ordered. The new fighter jets are to exchange Norway’s fleet of F-16.

Last week, the Netherlands and Denmark introduced that they may donate F-16 plane. Denmark mentioned it should present 19 planes, whereas the Netherlands has not mentioned what number of planes it should donate.

Earlier this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy toured a number of European nations, together with the Netherlands and Denmark, however skipped Norway.

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