President Joe Biden has seemingly ruled out that the United States will be providing Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets. In a short exchange with reporters on Jan. 30, Biden was asked if the United States would be providing F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, to which he simply replied, “No.”
Biden’s comments follow a similar announcement from Germany’s chancellor, who also declined to send such fighter jets. Ukraine has been pushing its allies for advanced warplanes to help Kyiv take control of its airspace, but the United States and its partners fear that this could lead to further escalation with Russia.
The Kremlin could argue that the F-16s could be used to hit targets inside Russia, which Moscow could interpret as a significant escalation in the war. Despite Moscow’s accusations of NATO aggression, member countries like the United States and Germany have been hesitant to provide military aid that might escalate the conflict.
The F-16 is widely considered one of the world’s most reliable fighter jets, armed with precision-guided missiles. The United States Air Force states that the F-16 fighter jet has the ability to carry precision-guided bombs and missiles and can reach speeds of 1,500 mph. The advanced targeting capabilities of the F-16 would enable Ukrainian forces to strike Russian targets with increased precision, even during nighttime or adverse weather conditions.
U.S. National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby defended the decision, highlighting the $27.1 billion worth of military aid the United States has already sent to Ukraine since the start of the war.
Biden confirmed on Jan. 25 that the United States will send M1 Abrams main battle tanks to Ukraine, with similar support coming from the UK and Germany.
Biden reiterated that the tanks were “not an offensive threat to Russia.” Biden went on to say, “That’s what we all want: an end to this war.
‘A Fighter Jet Coalition’
Ukraine has asked its allies to create a “fighter jet coalition” but has received mixed reactions. “The next big hurdle will now be the fighter jets,” Yuriy Sak, who advises Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, told Reuters on Jan. 27.UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace noted that initial responses are often “no” but end up being “yes.” Some countries such as Poland and the Netherlands have given positive signals about supplying fighter jets. While Poland has not ruled out sending F-16s, it would only do so in coordination with NATO members.
Emmanuel Macron, the French president, said in principle “nothing is excluded,” but any delivery of fighter jets to Ukraine would need to not escalate the situation, not be likely to hit Russian soil, and not weaken the French armed forces. Ukraine Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov is in Paris and will likely meet with Macron and Reznikov’s counterpart as part of Ukraine’s wider military lobbying effort.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia has escalated its attacks on Ukraine as revenge for resistance to its invasion. In Kyiv, both sides are fighting what has been described as meat grinder warfare. The hundreds of modern tanks and armored vehicles pledged by Western countries for a counteroffensive are still months away from delivery.
Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for the Kremlin, has stated that increased involvement of NATO countries in the conflict “doesn’t have the potential to change the course of events and will not do so.”
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