The White House announced plans to base F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine, marking a significant development in the ongoing conflict with Russia. During a press briefing, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed the decision but refrained from providing specific details regarding the total number of aircraft to be transferred or the timeline for their deployment.
“The F-16s will be based in Ukraine,” he said.
The official didn’t provide details when asked whether the F-16s in Ukraine’s possession will take off from NATO bases when operating against Russian forces.
Sullivan refused to say how many fighter jets will be transferred to Kiev in total, and exactly when they could start combat missions.
“Those are just things I can’t share for operational reasons. What we have said is that the transfer is underway, and that Ukrainian pilots will be operating in theater this summer in F-16s,” he said.
The decision to station F-16s in Ukraine is part of broader Western efforts to bolster the country’s military capabilities amidst escalating tensions with Russia. This development follows a series of military aid packages aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s defense against ongoing aggression.