The US has given the green light to the Netherlands and Denmark to supply F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine as soon as the pilot training programme is completed, news agency Reuters has reported.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been urging friendly nations to provide fighter jets for several months which he says are essential to head off Russian air attacks. 

The US needed to give its approval because the jets are made there. Now foreign minister Antony Blinken has told his Dutch and Danish counterparts that this permission has now been granted, Reuters said.

The pilots training programme was endorsed by the US in May but the first results won’t be until next year.

Dutch foreign minister Wopke Hoekstra said on social media that he is pleased the US has now taken a decision. “We will further discuss the issue with our European partners,” he said. “This marks a major milestone for #Ukraine to defend its people and its country.” 

The Netherlands has 42 F-16 jet fighters, of which 24 are in use but due to be phased out from next year. Another 18 are currently available for sale, of which 12 have been provisionally sold, Reuters said.