No plans to supply F-16 jets to Ukraine, US reaffirms
F-16 fighter jet (Photo:Master Sgt. Andy Dunaway / Wikipedia)
The United States has no immediate plans to
transfer F-16
fighter jets to Ukraine, White House National Security spokesman John Kirby
said during a press briefing on April 24.
According to Kirby, the focus remains is on expanding ongoing security assistance to Kyiv in the coming weeks and months.
“President Biden has said that this (transfer of F-16 to Ukraine) is not being considered at the moment,” said Kirby.
“What we are currently focused on are the capabilities that Ukrainians themselves have said they really need in the coming weeks and months.”
He stressed that the U.S. government is in constant contact with Ukrainian officials.
"We discuss almost daily with the Ukrainians what capabilities they need first and foremost," Kirby adds.
The official also reminded that Ukraine's military needs were discussed at the most recent Ramstein format meeting, where participants raised the issue of strengthening air defense and providing additional ammunition.
According to Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, a positive decision regarding the transfer of modern jets to Ukraine is a “matter of one or two months.”
Serhiy Holubtsov, commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, earlier said it would take less than six months for Ukrainian pilots to learn how to operate F-16s.
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