President Joe Biden has given the go-ahead to allow NATO allies to transfer F-16 fighter jets to Kiev – although it isn’t clear that any of the allies are in a position to make a donation. 

The US has contractual control over the re-export of the jets, so Washington’s approval was vital to remaining on friendly terms with Washington. Ukraine, which had 120, mostly Soviet era, combat-capable aircraft at the time the Russian invasion started, has asked for 200 F-16s, but it seems unlikely to be getting any this year.

While most European countries were waiting for the US to take the lead, only the UK was proactively lobbying to send F-16s to The Ukraine, and the UK has no F-16s of its own. 

The Belgian government has repeatedly asserted that it is ready to provide any support to help Ukraine push back Russia’s full-scale invasion, but it has refused to part with any of its own 53 F-16s. The Belgian Defense Minister Ludivine Dedoner reiterated in the country’s Parliament that Belgium would train Ukrainian pilots to fly the F-16s, but the Belgian Air Force still needs the 53 F-16 remaining in its inventory. Germany has also indicated that it is okay with the training of the pilots, but its role will be limited as it doesn’t operate the F-16 fighter jets.

The German Air Force has announced a Euro 2.7 billion worth of military package for Ukraine, and the Commander of the German Air Force, Ingo Gerhartz, has stated that Germany, where the US has F-16s stationed, may join the “fighter jet coalition for Ukraine” by enabling training to take place, but also does not have any F-16s itself. Polish defence minister Mariusz Blaszczak said that the Polish side is ready to train pilots on F-16 aircraft, and the country’s President, Andrzej Duda, has also indicated that it is not ready to give away its modern jets, having 48 F-16s in its inventory. 

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the country was “seriously considering” sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine but has not decided yet.