Reports: NATO-member Norway to donate F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, becoming third country to do so

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — NATO-member Norway will reportedly donate F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, whose forces are embroiled in a difficult counteroffensive against Russia. The reports come as Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre visits Kyiv. There was no official confirmation of the plan, which was reported by Norwegian broadcasters NRK and TV2. Norway would be the third country after the Netherlands and Denmark to donate F-16 planes. Ukraine has long pleaded for the sophisticated fighter to give it a combat edge. It recently launched a long-anticipated counteroffensive against the Kremlin’s forces without air cover, placing its troops at the mercy of Russian aviation and artillery.