Nato summit: Norway will donate six F-16 jets to boost Ukraine’s air defenses

Norway will donate six F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine to defend itself from Russian attacks, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said Wednesday, adding that the jets will be important for Kyiv.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in Washington that the gathering will be a celebration and an opportunity for NATO members to make significant decisions about their future.

Stoltenberg announced that he expected allies to agree on a comprehensive package of support for Ukraine, comprising five key elements:

- NATO command will provide security assistance and training to Ukraine

- A long-term commitment to sustain support for Ukraine’s security

- New announcements of immediate support, including air defence capabilities

- Bilateral security agreements between Ukraine and individual NATO member states

- Enhanced efforts to improve interoperability between Ukrainian and NATO forces

Ukraine has long pleaded for the sophisticated fighter to give it a combat edge against Russian firepower.

No date was announced as to when Norway will donate the six jets, but Gahr Støre said, “we aim to start the donations during 2024.”

He said Kyiv’s “ability to defend itself against attacks from the air is absolutely crucial in its defensive battle against Russia.”

Last year Gahr Støre said during a trip to Kyiv that Norway would donate F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine but didn’t specify how many.

After 42 years of service, the Nordic NATO member phased out its aging fleet of F-16 fighters in 2021 and is replacing them with new F-35A Joint Strike Fighter jets.

Norway is the third European country after the Netherlands and Denmark to donate F-16 planes to Ukraine.

Oil-rich Norway is one of the world’s biggest donors to Ukraine.