US won't transfer F-16s to Ukraine soon: Air Force
Photo: The US does not plan to transfer F-16 to Ukraine in the near future (Getty Images)
The United States will not be transferring F-16 aircraft to Ukraine in the near future as part of the aviation coalition established by its partners, according to US Deputy Secretary of Defense Frank Kendall in an interview with Helsingin Sanomat.
Kendall, who oversees the US Air Force, stated that the United States does not plan to transfer its own F-16s to Ukraine in the near future.
"I am not aware of this," he said in an interview with the Finnish publication.
According to Kendall, the current aid meets Ukraine's present needs. F-16s have been pledged to Ukraine by Denmark and the Netherlands, both NATO members.
"The United States is assisting with pilot training alongside our partners, and there will be significant progress in the training volume next year," he added.
F-16s already in Ukraine
It is worth noting that Ukraine received its first F-16 fighters from partners over the summer. This followed numerous media reports about the initial deployment of the aircraft.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy officially confirmed the receipt of the aircraft on August 4, a symbolic date marking the Day of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Ukrainian command emphasizes that the currently received fighters are insufficient to significantly alter the situation on the front.
To learn why Ukraine needs F-16s and how they will aid in repelling Russian attacks, see the RBC-Ukraine report.
