Several European allies are ready to transfer their F-16s to Ukraine. But the Biden administration, which must approve any shipment of American-made planes, remains unconvinced that Ukraine needs the expensive planes that form the basis of many modern military arsenals, the publication notes. Washington’s skepticism runs so deep that Kiev pilots are currently not even allowed to train on F-16s owned by European states, according to a senior Ukrainian official who spoke to reporters under cover of anonymity to frankly discuss the delicate diplomatic issue.
The reluctance of the United States to allow the formation will severely limit a potential new European coalition to help Ukraine obtain and use F-16s, whether in the current conflict or to defend against any future challenges from Moscow. believes the NYT. In Washington, a senior US official told the publication that the Biden administration remains reluctant to send its own F-16s to Ukraine, in part because the plane’s multimillion-dollar price tag would absorb too much of the “already dwindling cauldron of military forces”. funding.” Instead, according to the U.S. official, the White House is more concerned about accelerating the delivery of other U.S. weapons to Ukraine in time for the counteroffensive against Russia, and “of any way, the planes won’t reach the battlefield for at least several months – presumably long after the start.”
This is not the first time the Biden administration has resisted allied demands to send more powerful and sophisticated weapons to Ukraine. In each case, Washington’s approach eventually changed, and the US administration authorized the transfer to Ukraine of powerful HIMARS rocket launchers, Abrams tanks and Patriot air defense missiles. It could happen this time too. The US administration official did not rule out that the Biden administration might issue re-export licenses to European military personnel, allowing them to transfer their F-16s to Ukraine.
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