The Netherlands is “seriously considering” sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, but the final decision has not yet been made, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Friday, Reuters reports.

Earlier this week, the Netherlands said it wanted to start training Ukrainian pilots to fly the F-16 as soon as possible.

Asked whether the Netherlands would send fighter jets to Ukraine, Rutte told a news conference that a final decision had not yet been made, but added that “when you start training, it’s obviously something you’re seriously thinking about.”

Any decision to send the F-16s depends on the US allowing it, Rutte said. He added that the Netherlands would be able to provide the fighters as it began phasing out its F-16 fleet.

According to the Dutch Ministry of Defence, the Netherlands currently has 24 operational F-16s, which will be retired by mid-2024. Another 18 aircraft are currently available for sale, of which 12 were sold on an interim basis. .

Last Friday, US President Joe Biden approved training programs for Ukrainian F-16 pilots, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi assured Biden that the planes would not be used to cross into Russian territory.

The West says it wants to help Ukraine defeat Russia, but has repeatedly insisted it does not want to spark a direct confrontation between the US-backed NATO military alliance and Russia.

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