Ukraine Recap: Zelenskiy Gets Jet Pledges; Drones Hit Russia

Ukraine will get F-16 fighter jets from Denmark and the Netherlands for its counteroffensive against Russia, the European countries confirmed, days after the US agreed to the transfers. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met with the Dutch prime minister in Eindhoven, where the pair toured an air base, and headed next to Denmark for talks with Premier Mette Fredriksen and other officials. It’s still unclear when the planes could be delivered to Kyiv, since they’re subject to the completion of pilot t

(Bloomberg) — Ukraine will get F-16 fighter jets from Denmark and the Netherlands for its counteroffensive against Russia, the European countries confirmed, days after the US agreed to the transfers. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met with the Dutch prime minister in Eindhoven, where the pair toured an air base, and headed next to Denmark for talks with Premier Mette Fredriksen and other officials. It’s still unclear when the planes could be delivered to Kyiv, since they’re subject to the completion of pilot training and other logistics. Zelenskiy met with Sweden’s prime minister on Saturday.

US officials have become gloomy about Ukraine’s counteroffensive strategy, weeks before the Biden administration will need to secure Congressional approval for more funding, the Financial Times reported. The report echoed an assessment last week from the Washington Post, citing intelligence sources who weren’t identified. Ukraine’s foreign minister pushed back in an interview with Germany’s Bild am Sonntag, urging patience and repeating a call for more weapons help. “Our success will reward the optimists and ruin the reputation of the doubters,” Dmytro Kuleba said. 

Russia repelled a drone south of Moscow early Sunday, the defense ministry said. A drone strike on the main railway station in Kursk in southern Russia, less than 100 miles from the Ukrainian border, damaged buildings and infrastructure. Two drones were also shot down in Russia’s Belgorod region. “The range of threats penetrating well inside Russia has increased,” the UK defense ministry said in an update, adding that its military is likely “under intense pressure” to improve air defenses.  

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