US-provided F-16s to be stationed in Ukraine - White House
Photo: White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan (Getty Images)
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.
Background
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.
Read more about when Ukraine will be able to receive the first F-16s in RBC-Ukraine's article.
