Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (left) and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen shake hands at a press conference in front of an F-16 fighter jet in the hangar of the Skrydstrup Airbase in Vojens, northern Denmark, on Aug 20, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

THE HAGUE / KIEV - Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Sunday confirmed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the Netherlands will deliver F-16 fighters to Ukraine.

Zelensky made a short visit to the Netherlands on Sunday. He met with Rutte at Eindhoven airbase, where they held a joint press conference.

It is unclear how many F-16 fighter jets will go to Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later stated on the social media platform X that he expects the support of 42 Dutch F-16 fighter jets. The F-16 fighters will help Ukraine to boost its air defense capabilities, Zelensky said

Zelensky later stated on the social media platform X that he expects the support of 42 Dutch F-16 fighter jets. 

"F-16. Breakthrough agreement ... Thank you, the Netherlands," Zelensky wrote in a Telegram post after meeting Rutte at Eindhoven.

The F-16 fighters will help Ukraine to boost its air defense capabilities, Zelensky said.

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On Saturday, Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said that the F-16 training for Ukrainian pilots and support staff has begun.

The training program will last at least six months, Reznikov said.

The Netherlands has 42 F-16s available in all but has yet to decide whether all of them will be donated, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said earlier on Sunday, when Zelenskiy visited the country.

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Sepatately, Denmark will deliver 19 jets in total, with the first six due to be shipped to Ukraine around New Year, followed by eight in 2024 and five the following year, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said.

Both the Netherlands and Denmark have F-16s available to donate as their armed forces are transitioning to newer F-35 fighters.

With Reuters inputs