In a significant development, Ukraine may soon receive a fleet of F-16 fighter jets from its NATO ally Greece, according to a report from Al-Jazeera dated July 16, 2024. Greece plans to decommission 32 of its old F-16 Block-30 fighter jets and sell them to the United States. Once upgraded, these aircraft will be transferred to Ukraine, bolstering its defense capabilities.

The arrival of these F-16 fighter jets will supplement the already substantial fleet promised to Kyiv by its various NATO allies, with the first jets expected to make their way to Ukraine in the coming weeks. President Volodymyr Zelensky has been advocating for the provision of advanced fighter jets from Western allies to aid in the ongoing conflict with Russia, which has now entered its third year.

Earlier this month, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that NATO allies had initiated the transfer of US-manufactured jets to Ukraine. He expressed confidence that Ukraine would be able to effectively defend itself against Russian aggression with the arrival of these aircraft, which are expected to start operating in Ukrainian skies this summer.

The decision by Greece to decommission its older fighter jets comes as it modernizes 82 F-16s to Block-70 and acquires 24 fourth-generation Dassault Rafale fighters from France, as reported by Al-Jazeera. Despite these upgrades, Zelensky recently cautioned that the number of F-16 fighter jets to be received by Ukraine this year would not be sufficient to counter Russia's air force.

Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, and Belgium had originally pledged to send Ukraine over 60 fighter jets this summer. However, Bloomberg reported on July 12, citing unnamed sources, that Ukraine's expectations may not be fully met, with only six jets expected this summer and up to 20 by the end of 2024.

Responding to the reports, Zelensky expressed his concerns about the adequacy of the fighter jet supply, emphasizing that it would not be enough to match Russia's air fleet. He called for more support from allies, indicating that Ukraine would need a greater number of advanced aircraft.

Despite the potential shortfall, the news of potential F-16 transfers from Greece has been welcomed by Ukrainian lawmakers. Kira Rudik, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament, highlighted the positive impact of such a decision on strengthening Ukraine's airspace.

It is worth noting that Greece had previously assisted Ukraine by participating in the training of Ukrainian air force pilots to fly the F-16 fighter jets. Zelensky expressed his gratitude for Greece's support during a joint news conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in August 2023.

As Ukraine awaits the final decision on the potential transfer of F-16s from Greece, the addition of these advanced fighter jets would undoubtedly provide a significant boost to the country's defense capabilities and its ongoing efforts to counter Russian aggression.