Brussels (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann urges Germany and EU nations to expand arms supplies to Ukraine, enhance F-16 effectiveness, and maintain strong support against Russian aggression.
Should Europe Expand Arms Supplies to Ukraine?
Chair of the European Parliament’s Defense Committee, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann called on the governments of Germany and other European Union nations to expand arms supplies to Ukraine.
How Can the West Enhance Ukraine’s F-16s?
She also recommended the West take further measures to improve the effectiveness of the American F-16 fighter jets recently provided to Ukraine. “This is an important signal and effective support that the F-16s are finally being delivered,” the politician stated.
Strack-Zimmermann stressed that Europe must not lose resolve. “All states—not just Germany—must do everything feasible to protect Ukraine and enable it to continue supporting itself,” she said. In her view, this includes both sustaining air defence units and supplying Taurus cruise missiles, nevertheless of the opinion of the German Chancellery.
Is Europe Providing Adequate Support to Ukraine?
At the end of July, Ukraine acquired its first F-16 fighter jets from Western allies. The exact number of planes in Ukraine is still unrecognised. The Times conveyed that Ukraine received six jets from the Netherlands, while The Economist asserts that the first ten F-16s have arrived in Ukraine. Another ten jets are anticipated to be delivered by the end of the year, with the remaining pledged aircraft to be delivered in batches in 2025.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the current number of F-16s on Ukrainian soil is still lacking, but Ukraine expects additional jets from its associates. Ex-US European Command Chief Ben Hodges voiced disappointment at how long it has taken to provide the aircraft to Ukraine. He indicated that one reason for the delay might be the absence of training slots for Ukrainian pilots — a “policy decision by the administration.”
Another problem is language barriers. Although Ukrainian commanders are battle-hardened, F-16s are different and more complicated compared to the Soviet-era MiG-29s and Su-27s they are used to. A further factor causing holds is the establishment of infrastructure for sustaining the F-16s. It is noted that onboard engineers demand similar training to that of the pilots. Some repair and upkeep work may also be carried out in neighbouring NATO countries.
Former German Defense Ministry Chief of Staff Nico Lange said that F-16s are an elevated-priority target for the Russians. Thus, they have been deployed with a heightened degree of secrecy, at dispersed bases with confidential or fortified shelters. Last month, Bloomberg conveyed that Ukraine had received F-16s. According to The Times, the Netherlands delivered six aircraft to Ukraine. There were also documents online that F-16s were used for air defence.
