F-16s will allow Ukraine to end Russian blockade of ports, says MFA
Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Ukraine will be able to halt the Russian blockade of its maritime ports, with F-16 fighter jets, Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba believes.
He has urged European Union to work actively for stripping Russia of its influence over Ukrainian exports. The ideal scenario would involve putting an end to the Russian naval blockade of Ukrainian ports.
Kuleba added that this possibility will arise once Ukraine receives its first squadrons of F-16 fighter jets, which will be able to patrol the skies and maritime routes.
The minister thanked all EU countries that have already made significant contributions to the aircraft coalition. He called for swift implementation of all necessary procedures.
F-16s for Ukraine
Ukraine's allies recently decided to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighters, following the approval of US President Joe Biden.
Denmark and the Netherlands lead the coalition responsible for the training. However, no country has announced F-16 deliveries to Ukraine as of now.
These aircraft are vital for Ukraine's defense against ongoing Russian threats, as official sources emphasized.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov stated that the American fighters would only reach Ukraine next year. Kuleba later specified that the transfer would occur at the beginning of 2023.
