Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen has given the green light for donated Danish F-16 fighter jets to be used to attack targets in Russia. The statement was made to Jyllands-Posten on Thursday evening, where the minister emphasized that Denmark is acting in accordance with international law, and therefore Ukraine may use the planes to strike targets on Russian territory. This includes areas where Russia stores and mobilizes military forces for attacks on Ukraine. However, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has not confirmed this announcement. During a Nordic summit in Stockholm, she refrained from repeating the defense minister’s message, though she acknowledged that Ukraine has the right to defend itself under international law, which may involve using Danish weapons to target military objectives outside Ukraine’s borders. When asked why she did not confirm Troels Lund Poulsen’s statement, Frederiksen stated that she did not wish to delve into further details about the F-16 aircraft, but emphasized that it is good the defense minister has already addressed the issue.
Troels Lund Poulsen participated in an event at Jyllands-Posten on Thursday, where the focus was on the 19 F-16 aircraft that Denmark has committed to donating to Ukraine, set to be dispatched this summer. However, he clarified that Denmark does not intend for the planes to be used for bombing Moscow. The debate surrounding the use of Western weapons in attacks on Russian territory has been intense in Europe. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg urged the United States and EU NATO countries to consider lifting the ban on Ukraine attacking targets in Russia. France and Germany have stated that their weapon donations may be used for such attacks if done within the framework of international law. Belgium, however, has stated that their donated F-16 aircraft can only be used within Ukraine’s territory—a position Denmark previously shared. Former Defense Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen stated in August 2023 that Danish weapon donations should only be used to push the enemy out of Ukraine.