“In order to drastically reduce the capabilities of the key weapon of the Russian army – artillery, which they use today on the front lines, we need missiles that will destroy ammunition depots,” said adviser to the Ukrainian President Mykhailo Podolyak on the Ukrainian television channel Svoboda. . According to him, there are more than a hundred artillery depots in Russian-occupied Crimea. “So, above all, the negotiations [о ракетах] are already underway. Second, they are moving at an accelerated pace,” he said, without giving details.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his speech that Ukraine seeks to prevent Russian strikes against Ukrainian cities and civilians. “Ukraine needs long-range missiles to deprive the occupier of the possibility of placing its missile launchers somewhere far from the front line and destroying Ukrainian cities,” he said.
Zelenskyyy believes Ukraine needs a US-made ATACMS missile with a range of 185 miles (297 km). Washington has so far refused to supply this type of weaponry.
On the same day, the Ukrainian Air Force denied media reports that it intended to receive 24 fighter jets from allies, saying negotiations were underway, Ukrainian online publication Babel reported. .
Earlier, Spanish newspaper El Pais, quoting Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ignat, reported that Ukraine initially tried to get two squadrons of 12 aircraft each – preferably F fighters -16, which might be the best multi-role fighter option to replace the current fleet of obsolete Soviet-era aircraft. .
Yuri Ignat told Babel that his words during the January 27 briefing were misinterpreted. “Ukraine is only at the stage of negotiations regarding aircraft. Specific patterns and numbers are currently being determined,” he said.
White House deputy national security adviser John Finer said on January 27 that the United States would be “very cautious” in discussing jet deliveries with Kiev. The German Defense Minister this week ruled out the idea of sending fighter jets to Ukraine.
