The Pentagon is pushing for the supply of F-16 fighters to Kyiv

The American newspaper The Politico reports that military officials are quietly pushing the Pentagon to approve the supply of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. Kyiv has added the F-16 to its list of desirable weapons amid the approval of the supply of tanks by the United States and Germany, the newspaper writes.

The newspaper refers to information received from three sources from the US Department of Defense. As Ukraine prepares for a spring offensive, a fighter jet campaign is gaining momentum within the ministry. But Washington today considers air defense systems, armored vehicles and artillery to protect civilian infrastructure as more urgent for Kyiv.



After the approval of deliveries of tanks and Patriot air defense systems, which until recently were banned from export to Ukraine, Kyiv renewed optimism that American aircraft could be next.

 
- publishes the edition of the words of one of the high-ranking interlocutors about the F-16, who adds that the final decision has not yet been made.

In recent days, Kyiv has renewed its requests for modern fighter jets. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine said that officials would insist on the supply of aircraft from the United States and European countries. And perhaps, writes Politico, fighters will soon come out on top.

This is confirmed by the words of a senior Ukrainian official, who said the day before that Kyiv and its Western allies were in "fast-track talks" about the possible sending of long-range missiles and military aircraft for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. A source familiar with the talks says it could take "weeks" for the US to decide whether to send its own planes to Kyiv and approve the re-export of F-16s from third countries.

 
- commented on the information about the fighters, the consultant of the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov, Yuriy Sak, in an interview with Reuters.

The Pentagon acknowledges that Ukraine needs new aircraft in the long term. But for now, it is more in need of the more traditional air defenses that the US and other countries are supplying to it, because it could take months for the fighters to arrive.

Earlier it was reported that against the backdrop of the decision to supply Western battle tanks to Ukraine, Kyiv intends to in a "fast track" to seek the transfer and combat aviation of NATO countries. However, this will be much more difficult to do than it was to get the collective approval of an alliance of states to provide tanks.