The switch of fighter jets is meant to assist kyiv “successfully defend itself” in opposition to Russian invasion, the highest US diplomat says.
The primary batch of US-built F-16 fighter jets is being transferred to Ukraine, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated, as world leaders pledge their continued help for kyiv at a NATO summit in Washington, DC.
Talking on the sidelines of Wednesday’s summit, Blinken stated the F-16s had been being transferred from Denmark and the Netherlands.
“And people planes… will likely be flying over the skies of Ukraine this summer time to make sure that Ukraine can proceed to successfully defend itself in opposition to Russian aggression,” the highest U.S. diplomat stated.
Help for Ukraine through the Russian invasion of the nation is on the prime of the agenda at this week’s NATO summit within the US capital, the place leaders of the alliance’s 32 member nations have met.
Ukraine has lengthy sought superior Western plane, and U.S. President Joe Biden gave the inexperienced gentle in August to switch F-16s to the nation regardless of issues about how lengthy it might take Ukrainian personnel to coach to fly such jets.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who can be in Washington, DC, for this week’s summit, had urged his American and European allies to supply kyiv with extra monetary and army help to stop Russian assaults.
In a submit on social media, Zelenskyy thanked the US, Denmark and the Netherlands for serving to “strengthen the Ukrainian air power with F-16s.”
I want to thank the US, Denmark and the Netherlands for taking sensible steps to realize the aim of all Ukrainians – strengthening the Ukrainian Air Drive with F-16s.
I want to thank Belgium and Norway for his or her dedication to supply us with their F-16 plane.…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Volodymyr Zelenski (@ZelenskyyUa) July 10, 2024
“It is a clear signal that Russia’s capability to terrorize Ukrainian individuals, cities and communities will proceed to say no,” he wrote in X.
“The F-16s will even be used to bolster Ukraine’s air defence. I’m certain that they’ll assist us higher shield Ukrainians from brutal Russian assaults, equivalent to this week’s assault on the Okhmatdyt kids’s hospital in kyiv.”
NATO members have introduced the supply of 5 extra Patriot and different strategic air protection methods to assist Ukraine, with additional assist bulletins anticipated at this week’s summit.
In a joint assertion on the F-16 switch, the leaders of the US, the Netherlands and Denmark stated they had been “dedicated to additional enhancing Ukraine’s air capabilities, which is able to embody squadrons of contemporary, fourth-generation F-16 multirole plane.”
“The coalition intends to help their upkeep and armament, in addition to present extra coaching to pilots to enhance operational effectiveness,” they stated.
“We are going to proceed to coordinate collectively to help Ukraine’s capability to defend itself in opposition to Russian aggression.”
The NATO summit falls at a crucial time for Biden, who’s dealing with questions on his well being and talent to serve one other time period as U.S. president after his disastrous exhibiting within the 2024 election debate late final month.
The Democratic Occasion chief, who is anticipated to face his Republican predecessor Donald Trump within the November election, has rejected calls to drop out of the race.
In a speech Tuesday evening to mark the beginning of the summit, Biden pledged long-term help for Ukraine and praised NATO as “stronger than ever in its historical past.”
“Ukraine can and can cease Putin,” the US president stated, “particularly with our full collective help. They usually have our full help.”