Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife landed on Sunday at a Dutch air base in Eindhoven, a government spokesman said.
This visit follows his trip to Sweden last Saturday, where the Ukrainian president met with the Swedish Prime Minister, with whom he discussed issues related to military cooperation.
According to information provided by Zelensky on Twitter, during his visit to the Netherlands, he will meet with Prime Minister Mark Rutte, with whom he will discuss the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, but also the protection of the Ukrainian people from Russian terror.
Details about the delivery of the aircraft from the Netherlands to Ukraine are not yet known. The F-16 fighters were a recurring request from Volodymyr Zelensky for an ongoing counter-offensive to drive Russian troops out of occupied territories in eastern and southern Ukraine.
The green light from Washington for the delivery of F-16s from Denmark and the Netherlands was announced Friday and was a necessary step towards resupplying US fighter jets, but does not mean an immediate delivery given the need for training of Ukrainian pilots. .
Prior to his arrival in the Netherlands, Zelensky vowed severe retaliation for a Russian missile strike in the center of the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv on Saturday, which killed seven people and injured nearly 150.
“I am sure that our soldiers will respond to Russia for this terrorist attack. They will respond in a tangible way,” the Ukrainian president said in a video address released overnight.
Zelenskyy identified a six-year-old girl named Sofia among those killed in the attack and confirmed that 15 children were among those injured.
“I thank everyone around the world who condemned Russia’s horrific attack on Chernihiv, which killed 7 people, including 6-year-old Sofia. My condolences to all who have lost loved ones. 144 people injured, including 15 children Our fighters will give Russia a tangible response. pic.twitter.com/Ft1oMMl9iS
– Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 19, 2023
Chernihiv region governor Vyacheslav Chaus said on Sunday that the total number of confirmed injured had risen to 148.
Further east, Russian troops shelled the city of Kupiansk early Sunday, seriously wounding one man, according to Kharkiv regional governor Oleh Syniehubov.
Source: DN
