2024-06-22 12:43:00
Washington’s supply of F-16 fighter jets to Kiev can be primarily based on Ukrainian territory, U.S. nationwide safety adviser Jake Sullivan mentioned, however the neighboring NATO member is not going to. The information was introduced in an interview with PBS Information Channel (PBS) following reviews in Russian and Ukrainian media.
Russian state media RT mentioned: Sullivan revealed the plan to PBS. After U.S. President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a 10-year bilateral safety settlement on June 13, the principle content material of this settlement is that Washington pledges to proceed to assist Kyiv in its battle with Moscow.
After the signing of the settlement, Zelensky introduced that america was dedicated to offering Ukraine not solely the “Patriot” air protection system, but additionally “Group” fighter jets, together with F-16s and different varieties of fighter jets.
Along with america, there are Belgium, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands. It has pledged to ship as much as 60 F-16 plane to Ukraine by the top of this yr. Kiev has mentioned on a number of events that these Western-supplied fighter jets might be stationed outdoors Ukraine on the territory of neighboring international locations which are members of NATO, which might make the plane “protected”
In the meantime, a report by the Ukrainian Nationwide Information Company (UNN) supplied extra particulars. When the PBS interviewer requested, “Ukraine has publicly acknowledged that they are going to start receiving F-16s within the close to future. They are going to be deployed outdoors Ukraine. Have you learnt that below the above plan, the F-16s can be stationed in a sure NATO nation?”
Sullivan replied. The plan is to deploy these F-16s in Ukraine. Below the bilateral safety settlement signed by the President (i.e. Joe Biden) and President Zelenskyy, extra consideration is paid to this subject. It signifies that we have to assist Ukraine possess this functionality (it has F-16, which needs to be a functionality primarily based in Ukraine).
One other Ukrainian media outlet, Euromaidan Press, reported that earlier than Sullivan advised PBS this time, aviation commander Serhiy Holubtsov, the Ukrainian Air Pressure headquarters, had come out and mentioned that associate international locations have been offering companies to fulfill the wants of the Ukrainian army. A number of the F-16 fighter jets are being delivered. It is going to be saved at varied air pressure bases. That is safe outdoors Ukraine to forestall these plane from being focused by Russian assaults.
Khobtsov mentioned that Ukrainian aviation gear is presently concentrated at airports within the nation. It comes below Russian assault nearly each evening, with each drones and cruise missiles. On the identical time, the aviation commander of the Ukrainian Air Pressure mentioned that Ukraine already has a number of airports that may accommodate F-16s, and the army additionally understands the variety of energetic plane that can be imported this yr.
Euromedan Press additionally reported that Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander Alexander Silsky mentioned in an announcement that Russia was pursuing a technique geared toward launching a fierce offensive and increasing fight operations. The purpose was to deplete the Ukrainian army earlier than the F-16s arrived.
Zirsky mentioned the Russian army understands that Ukraine’s air protection capabilities can be considerably strengthened. With the addition of F-16s, Russia’s possibilities of success diminish.
Ukraine expects the primary batch of F-16s to reach in Ukraine this summer season. The plane have been delivered from the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway and Denmark.
Nevertheless, Euromedan Press additionally reported that Ukraine not too long ago criticized america for “deliberate delays” in coaching Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16s, which is why Ukraine nonetheless doesn’t have sufficient skilled pilots to fly all of the F-16s that can be deployed. On the finish of the yr, Washington defined to Kiev that many international locations have been lining up in entrance of Ukrainian pilots for the correct to obtain coaching. The US can’t renege on its current commitments to those international locations.
For this RT reviews the small print of Alexandra Ustinova, the top of the Ukrainian Parliament’s Armed Forces Procurement Committee, making the above accusations in an interview with the British newspaper The Instances. It was reported on June 16 that , america is on the lookout for “excuses” for failing to coach sufficient Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16s.
RT mentioned that Ukrainian pilots are presently receiving coaching in america and Denmark. One other coaching program is deliberate in Romania. However we have not began but.
Ustinova advised the Instances: Thus far, solely eight Ukrainian pilots have acquired coaching on the Morris Air Nationwide Guard Base in Tucson, Arizona, and 12 extra pilots are receiving coaching in Denmark.
She mentioned such delays in preparations meant that by the top of the yr, solely 20 Ukrainian pilots might have been absolutely skilled to fly the F-16. Ukraine had beforehand requested U.S. assist so as to add at the least 10 extra Ukrainian pilots to this system, however was rejected.
RT reported that the US information web site Politico reported a couple of week in the past {that a} senior Pentagon official revealed that Ukraine tried to have 30 F-16 pilots skilled by Western international locations, however was rejected. Ukrainian pilots already collaborating in this system need to face language boundaries. The Tucson base can practice 12 pilots at a time, and there are pilots from different international locations. We’re already ready in line.
Nevertheless, Ustinova expressed anger at The Instances. It questioned the explanations for the US delay. and hinted that this was the intention of america.
“These causes should not weighty arguments. It is an excuse. They hold making excuses. Time and once more,” she repeated, hypothesizing that delays in coaching Ukrainian pilots might also be as a result of Washington’s concern of U.S. F-16s in Ukraine Seems in massive numbers in conflicts. Moscow might even see this as integrating Ukraine into NATO. “That is utterly political,” she charged.
Ukrainian lawmakers have pressured that Ukraine wants F-16s to counter typical mines utilized by Russia and switch them into glide bombs that may hit targets with precision. It has turn out to be one of the crucial efficient weapons for inflicting harm within the battle in Ukraine. “These bombs are enormous, starting from 500 kilograms to 1,500 kilograms.” The one answer that might “make it fall is to make use of an airplane to jack off.”
RT’s report concluded: Moscow has repeatedly warned that Western weapons shipments to Ukraine is not going to change the course of the battle. It simply prolongs it. This may solely result in extra bloodshed.
Chairman of the Protection Committee of the Russian Home of Representatives Andrei Kartapolov was responding to Kyiv’s assertion regarding plans to deploy some F-16s outdoors Ukraine. If these plane take off from abroad bases and have been used to assault Russian forces. The plane and their bases can be thought-regarding “reputable targets” for Russian assaults
(Supply: RT, Nationwide Information Company of Ukraine, Euromedan Press)
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