US-supplied F-16s to be stationed inside Ukraine – White House
- Zelensky announced after the deal was signed that the US had promised to supply Ukraine not only with weapons, including Patriot air-defense systems, but also with “squadrons” of fighter jets comprising F-16s as well as other aircraft.
- Kiev has on several occasions suggested that the Western-supplied fighters could be stationed outside Ukraine, on the territories of neighboring NATO countries where they would be “safe.”
“We want to help Ukraine have this capability. It should be a capability based in Ukraine,” he said.
Meanwhile, Moscow has repeatedly warned that any Western weapons delivered to Ukraine would become legitimate targets for strikes by Russian forces and would not have any effect on the ultimate outcome of the conflict, leading only to more bloodshed.
The chair of the Russian parliament’s Defense Committee, Andrey Kartapolov, has also warned that if any of Kiev’s F-16s are stationed outside of Ukraine and are used in combat operations against Russia, then Moscow would consider those foreign bases to be “legitimate targets.”
US-provided F-16s to be stationed in Ukraine - White House
The F-16 fighter jets that the US will provide to the Ukrainian military will be deployed in Ukraine, according to White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
He notes that the security agreement between the United States and Ukraine stipulates that the provided F-16 aircraft will be deployed in Ukraine.
"The plan is to put the F-16s in Ukraine. And the bilateral security agreement that the president and President Zelenskyy signed reinforced this point, that we want to help Ukraine have this capability. It should be a capability based in Ukraine," Sullivan says.
- The US Presidential Advisor also emphasizes that in the event of a threat, Ukraine could use the provided air defense systems, including those provided by the United States, to destroy Russian aircraft. This even includes aircraft that are in Russian airspace.
Ukraine's partners in the Aviation Coalition will provide the Ukrainian Air Force with F-16 fighters, namely, dozens of aircraft, the transfer of which will be gradual.
As noted by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Denmark will soon begin delivering F-16s.
Some of the fighters will be based not in Ukraine but at air bases in partner countries. The reason for this decision is to protect the aircraft.
Training Center Where Ukrainian Pilots Will Learn To Fly F-16s Opens In Romania
Ukraine has been long requesting F-16 planes from its allies to bolster its dwindling fleet of Soviet-era MiG jets as it carries on with a counteroffensive in the face of significant Russian airpower superiority.
"We're looking into the most efficient ways to integrate and start the training of Ukrainian pilots as soon as possible," Romania's Angel Talvar said after he and his Dutch counterpart, Kajsa Ollongren, inaugurated the European F-16 Training Center at the Borcea air base.
- A “small number” of Ukrainians started training at Morris Air National Guard Base in Tucson, Arizona, last month, the U.S. Air Force announced on October 26.
- In August, Denmark said nine Ukrainians had begun training at a military base in Skrydstrup, some 270 kilometers west of Copenhagen, along with maintenance and servicing personnel.
- The first five Dutch F-16 aircraft arrived in Romania a week ago.
- Denmark and Norway have also pledged to provide F-16s to Ukraine.
.jfif)
No comments:
Post a Comment