Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has confirmed that Denmark has placed no restrictions on the use of the F-16 fighter jets it has supplied to Ukraine.
Speaking at the GLOBSEC conference in Prague, Frederiksen expressed her regret over the delay in providing these critical military assets to Ukraine.
“I regret that the delivery of F-16s took so long. Personally, I was ready to transfer them to Ukraine from the very beginning of the war,” Frederiksen stated. She noted that there had been lengthy discussions among allies regarding whether it was the right decision to supply Ukraine with Western fighter jets, a debate that ultimately postponed their delivery.
Denmark has been one of Ukraine’s most steadfast supporters within NATO, offering $7.3 billion in military aid and contributing to the training of Ukrainian pilots and soldiers. The Nordic country, with a population of 6 million, recently donated 19 of its F-16s to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
Frederiksen did not provide details on how the F-16s might be used in specific operations but made it clear that Denmark imposes no restrictions on their deployment, as long as Ukraine adheres to international law. This stance contrasts with ongoing discussions among NATO allies about limiting the use of their military supplies inside Russian territory.
Frederiksen also addressed the broader geopolitical context of the war, pointing a finger at China for its support of Russia. “Russia would not be able to do this, they would not be able to kill Europeans in Ukraine almost every day if it wasn’t because of China,” she said. “We have to realize that and we have to understand how dangerous this situation is.”