Ukraine war: Joe Biden rules out sending F-16 fighter jets




  • In Business
  • 2023-01-31 06:24:55Z
  • By BBC
Two F-16 fighter jets
Two F-16 fighter jets  

US President Joe Biden has ruled out sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, despite renewed calls from Ukrainian officials for air support.

Asked by a reporter on Monday if the US would be providing the planes, Mr Biden replied simply "no".

His comment comes a day after Germany's leader also ruled out sending fighter jets.

Ukraine has said it needs the jets to take control of its airspace in its ongoing war with Russia.

F-16 Fighting Falcons are widely considered one of the world's most reliable fighter jets and are used by other countries, such as Belgium and Pakistan.

They would be a significant upgrade on the Soviet-era fighting jets Ukraine is currently using, which were made before the country declared independence from the USSR more than 30 years ago.

However, Mr Biden has repeatedly rebuffed Ukraine's pleas for the jets, instead focussing on providing military support in other areas.

The US announced last week that it would supply Kyiv with 31 Abrams tanks, with the UK and Germany also pledging similar support.

Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister, Andrii Melnyk, welcomed that announcement but asked allies for the creation of a "fighter jet coalition" that would also provide Ukraine with Eurofighters, Tornados, French Rafales and Swedish Gripen jets.

In an interview on Sunday, Germany's chancellor said that it "seemed frivolous" to discuss sending other military aid to Ukraine when they had just committed to sending the Leopard 2s.

Olaf Scholz also reiterated to German newspaper Tagesspiegel that the Nato military alliance was not at war with Russia and that it would "not allow such an escalation".

Moscow has accused Nato of being an aggressor by proxy and members of the alliance, including the US and Germany, have been reluctant to send military aid that could see the conflict escalate.

The French President, Emmanuel Macron, on Monday echoed this sentiment - saying that while "nothing is excluded" when it comes to providing support to Ukraine, it must neither further inflame the situation nor limit France's ability to defend itself.

Other EU countries, including the Netherlands, have not yet given a definitive response on whether they will send fighter jets.

However, Poland has indicated that it would be prepared to supply fighter jets in co-ordination with Nato.

You might also be interested in:

COMMENTS

More Related News

China calls Xi
China calls Xi's Russia visit one of friendship, peace
  • US
  • 2023-03-22 09:49:57Z

China on Wednesday said President Xi Jinping's just-concluded visit to Russia was a "journey of friendship, cooperation and peace," and again criticized...

UK says no nuclear escalation in Ukraine after row over depleted uranium munitions
UK says no nuclear escalation in Ukraine after row over depleted uranium munitions

LONDON (Reuters) -Britain's Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said on Wednesday there was no nuclear escalation in the Ukraine war after Russian President...

Xi and Putin solidify
Xi and Putin solidify 'strategic partnership of coordination' between China, Russia

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin signed a joint statement on Tuesday, the second day of Xi's visit to Moscow, calling for a...

Biden
Biden's Plan to Not Touch a Trump Indictment With a 130,000-Foot Pole

Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/ReutersIf, as expected, a Manhattan grand jury follows through and indicts Donald Trump, he'd become...

Ukraine, IMF agree on $15.6 billion loan package
Ukraine, IMF agree on $15.6 billion loan package
  • US
  • 2023-03-22 07:53:54Z

Ukraine and the International Monetary Fund have agreed on a $15.6 billion loan package aimed at shoring up government finances severely strained by Russia's...

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with *

Cancel reply

Comments

Top News: Business