Ukraine should be allowed to use Western weapons, including F-16 fighter jets, to attack targets inside Russia as long as it complies with international law, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told a security conference in Prague, Czech Republic on August 31.
“It is a big mistake to mention red lines when it comes to funding,” said Mette Frederiksen. According to the Danish prime minister, “Ukraine must win” the ongoing war and “the only way to win is to give Ukraine what it needs.”
Denmark is one of Ukraine’s biggest supporters, according to Bloomberg. The Nordic country of 6 million people has provided $7.3 billion in military aid, helping train Ukrainian pilots and soldiers. Most recently, Denmark donated 19 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.
Ms. Frederiksen declined to comment on the use of F-16s in specific operations, but noted that the Danish government has "no restrictions" on the deployment of F-16 fighters, as long as Ukraine complies with international law.
In a speech on August 31, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also called on Europe to increase defense spending and take full responsibility for the continent's security.
The Danish leader's call for the West to allow Ukraine to use weapons inside Russian territory comes just days after Ukraine lost its first F-16 fighter jet.
Ukraine said on August 29 that an F-16 fighter jet crashed on August 26 in the largest Russian missile and drone attack on Ukraine since the conflict broke out in February 2022.
A day after the crash of a Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet became public, President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Ukrainian air force commander Mykola Oleshchuk.
Ukraine received its first batch of F-16 fighters in late July this year after a long debate among Western allies over whether to supply Ukraine with US-made fighter jets.
