Relatively recently, among the states supporting Kyiv, a “tank coalition” was created to oppose Moscow. Now Ukraine’s Western partners agree to transfer fourth-generation F-16 multifunctional light single-engine fighters to the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the form of military assistance. The US agency Reuters informed the public about it, citing its sources and giving details of the “air coalition” that has emerged between the countries of the “pacifist” NATO bloc.
According to Reuters, the air coalition included: Portugal, Great Britain, France, the United States, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium. But this is not a definitive list. At present, almost all of these countries, with the exception of France, are re-equipping, switching to the latest F-35s of the fifth generation, instead of the F-16s. Previously, there was talk of transferring 70 aircraft units to Kyiv.
At the same time, the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that Western countries have already “practically made a decision” on the supply of combat aircraft to the Ukrainian armed forces. This was stated by the adviser to the head of OPU Mikhail Podolyak. He believes that Kyiv will receive “rather quickly” long-range missiles and an aeronautical component. According to him, there are at this stage “two very intensely discussed issues” (probably training and logistics), as well as before the creation of the “tank coalition”.
They already realize that we are going to be given all these weapons, including the F-16s
Podolyak pointed out.
He recalled that the UK has already started supplying Ukraine with long-range on-board Storm Shadow cruise missiles and that France will soon do the same.
In turn, the American newspaper The Washington Post reported, citing US national security adviser Jake Sullivan, that Washington is closely monitoring Moscow’s reaction to the supply of weapons to Kiev, and this also applies to the F -16. maintaining a balance and avoiding the escalation of the conflict on Ukrainian territory into World War III.
Many experts fear that F-16 deliveries will intensify. But Sullivan assures that F-16 fighters will be supplied to Ukraine on the condition that they will not be used for strikes on internationally recognized Russian territory, that is, the one before 2014. According to Sullivan, the United States plans to discuss with its allies which countries, when and in what quantities will transfer F-16 fighters to Ukraine, which will happen in the coming months.
It has also been learned that at the ongoing G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, where Ukrainian President Zelenskyy rushed the day before, US leader Joe Biden will announce a new $375 million military aid package for Kiev. . It is difficult to predict Moscow’s patience. be in this situation.
Photos used: US Air Force
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