Zelenskiy says F-16s make him 'confident that Russia will lose the war'

(Patria) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in Denmark that the promised deliveries of US F-16 fighter jets have convinced him that Ukraine can end the Russian invasion.

Denmark and the Netherlands announced on Sunday that they would deliver F-16 jets to Ukraine, with the first six expected to be delivered around the New Year. Washington approved the delivery of the jets ahead of Zelenskiy's trip to Copenhagen, Reuters reports.

“Today we are confident that Russia will lose this war,” Zelenskiy told thousands of people gathered outside the Danish parliament to hear his speech.

Russia warned that delivering jets to Ukraine would only escalate the war, which has been going on for nearly 18 months. Russian forces occupy almost a fifth of Ukraine's territory, and Kyiv is struggling to push them back.

“The fact that Denmark has now decided to donate 19 F-16 jets to Ukraine leads to an escalation of the conflict,” said Russian Ambassador Vladimir Barbin, according to the Ritzau news agency.

Danish Defense Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen said Ukraine may use the donated F-16s only on its own territory. “We donate weapons on the condition that they are used to drive the enemy out of Ukraine's territory. And nothing beyond that,” he said.

“Those are the conditions, whether it's tanks, fighter jets or something else,” he added.

Denmark will deliver a total of 19 jets. The Netherlands has a total of 42 F-16s, but has yet to decide whether all will be donated.