US will not provide F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, Biden says
F-16 (Photo:anthonyvareberg/Flickr)
The United States has no plans to make F-16 warplanes available to Ukraine, U.S. President Joe Biden told reporters on Jan. 30, according to French news agency AFP.
Reuters White House correspondent Nandita Bose said Biden confirmed a planned visit to Poland in near future, without specifying a date.
On Jan. 25, Biden announced the transfer of 31 M1 Abrams main battle tanks – something the Pentagon ruled out only weeks prior.
On Jan. 27, Deputy White House national security adviser Jon Finer said the United States will consider supplying Kyiv with fighter jets “very carefully.”
Politico previously reported that EU countries are discussing providing Ukraine with F-16s, although some countries remain concerned the move could escalate the conflict further.
The Netherlands earlier confirmed it’s prepared to make F-16 fighter jets available to Kyiv. French President Emmanuel Macron said Paris does not rule out doing the same.
U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin said the company is ready to supply F-16s to countries that are considering transferring their jets to Ukraine.
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