politics
SOMEWHERE IN UKRAINE (AP) — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy unveiled Ukraine's newly arrived F-16 fighter jets on Sunday, saying the planes would boost the country's war effort against Russia.
“These jets are in our skies and today you see them,” said Zelensky, standing in front of two of the fighter jets as two others flew overhead in close formation. “It's good that they are here and that we can use them.”
Ukraine can also be trying to steer its neighbouring countries to assist defend against Russian missiles, said Zelensky.
“This decision is probably difficult for our partners, as they always fear unnecessary escalation,” the Ukrainian president said. “We will work on it… I think we have a good option for a NATO-Ukraine Council… so that NATO countries can talk to Ukraine about the possibility of a small coalition of neighboring countries that would shoot down enemy missiles.”
Two F-16 jets covered in camouflage nets and bearing the Ukrainian trident insignia on the tail provided a dramatic backdrop for Zelensky's address on Air Force Day, an event held at an undisclosed location under tight security to guard the fighter jets from Russian attacks.
“Since the beginning of this war, we have been talking with our partners about the need to protect our Ukrainian skies from Russian missiles and Russian aircraft,” Zelensky said. “Now we have a new reality in our skies. The F-16s are in Ukraine. We made it possible. I am proud of our guys who have mastered these aircraft and have already started using them for our country. … Our fighter jets will bring us closer to victory.”
A senior Ukrainian military official said Ukraine may deploy among the F-16 fighter jets at foreign bases to guard them from Russian attacks. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Moscow could consider attacks on facilities in NATO countries if the fighter jets utilized in Ukraine are based there.
Made within the USA, the F-16 is an iconic fighter jet that has been the frontline combat aircraft of selection for NATO and various air forces around the globe for 50 years.
Although the F-16s are latest to Ukraine, they are literally older fighter jets donated by Ukraine's Western allies. Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway have pledged to deliver greater than 60 of those machines to Ukraine in the approaching months, but deliveries could also be slow. Zelensky didn’t say what number of F-16s have arrived in Ukraine or which countries they got here from.
US President Joe Biden gave the green light for the stationing of used F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine in August 2023. However, the US is not going to supply its own aircraft.
The F-16s will boost Ukraine's military strength, especially by improving its air defenses, but analysts say they alone is not going to turn the tide of the war.
Russia is making small but regular battlefield gains within the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, and its regular advance is intensifying as Ukraine steadily loses ground.
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