The United States of America will be able to deliver F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by the end of the year. This assumption was voiced by John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House.
“The F-16s probably will get there towards the end of the year. It’s not our assessment that the F-16s would turn the tide [at the frontline],” Kirby said.
At the same time, according to Kirby, the Armed Forces of Ukraine most need artillery shells. “They really need four things: artillery, ammunition, air defense and armor (tanks). And on four of these, we provided extraordinary support at, quite frankly, unprecedented speed,” the White House strategic communications coordinator said.
The first group of Ukrainian pilots who will master Western F-16 fighter jets is ready to start. However, the training has yet to begin, Yurii Ihnat, Spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force, said.
Previously, 11 partner countries signed a memorandum with Ukraine on the conditions for training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets.
Cover: Associated Press
