US President Joe Biden’s administration allows fighter jets to be sent to Ukraine, sources say Financial Times (FT). The head of state himself previously ruled out the transfer of aircraft.
According to the FT, U.S. officials admit they are likely to provide Kyiv with “more advanced air power as the war drags on, or at the very least give the green light to transfer F-16s from other countries.” According to the newspaper, the issue of providing aircraft will be discussed at a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels on 14 February.
FT sources noted that getting the fighter jets is a longer-term goal for Ukraine. The priority is the supply of ammunition.
The Ukrainian authorities, following approving the supply of Western-made tanks, began to actively seek to obtain fighters. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised to start training Ukrainian pilots in the spring and instructed the Minister of Defense to study the possibility of supplying aircraft to Kyiv. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and US President Joe Biden have previously ruled out sending fighter jets to Kyiv. French President Emmanuel Macron, answering a question regarding the possibility of supplies, said that, “in principle, nothing is ruled out.” The issue of the transfer of fighter jets is being worked out by Slovakia.
About the request of Kyiv – in the material “Kommersant” “Vladimir Zelensky got involved in the tour.”