Norway belongs to those countries that think Ukraine should be able to hit enemy’s rear — Norway’s Foreign Minister

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide says the F-16s that Norway is to provide to Ukraine will improve Ukraine’s ability to strike deeper into Russian territory.

Espen Barth Eide said this during a briefing with Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, in Kyiv on April 15.

“This is one of the reasons why we are glad to participate in the F-16 fighter programme, where we will transfer Norwegian F-16s, modernised and in good shape, alongside the Danes and the Dutch,” Barth Eide stated.

He added that F-16 aircraft will strengthen Ukraine’s capabilities overall and Norway will make sure that these planes are in a “top-upgraded, modern condition, even if it’s an old airframe”.

Ministers also discussed opportunities to provide more Norwegian NASAMS missiles to Ukraine as well as arranging more Patriots so that Ukrainian Air Forces could protect civilians.

“The key topic of the negotiations, I will be honest, was air defense systems. Norwegian NASAMS have proven themselves extremely positively in Ukraine, and we are grateful that the Norwegian government is making efforts to ensure that Ukraine has more such systems, but the Norwegian government also has the tools and capabilities to help we need to get Patriot systems from other countries, and we also discussed this topic in depth today,” Dmytro Kuleba said.

Just recently, Norway has been authorized to send 22 F-16s to Ukraine by the US, according to Norwegian media. The ally will also provide engines, auxiliary materials, simulators, and spare parts to maintain the aircraft. It should be noted that only 12 jets were officially approved as operational aircraft.

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