2023-08-18 03:36:08
2023-08-18 11:36 Compiled by United Daily News Xu Yuhan / Real-time report
Recently, a U.S. official revealed that the U.S. State Department has agreed with the Netherlands and Denmark to transfer their domestically owned F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, and promised the two countries to speed up the process of reviewing the transfer of fighter jets.
Archyde.com has learned through U.S. officials that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken sent a reply letter to the Dutch and Danish governments. Blinken said in the letter, “This letter is to express the U.S.’s concern about the transfer of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. And full support for the training of Ukrainian pilots by qualified F-16 instructors.”
“This remains critical to Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against Russia’s continued aggression and violation of sovereignty,” he said, adding that approval of the transfer would allow Ukraine to take full advantage of “after the first batch of pilots have completed their training.” its new capabilities”.
In May, U.S. President Joe Biden approved a training plan to provide Ukrainian pilots with F-16 fighter jets. In addition to training in Denmark, a training center will also be set up in Romania.
Ukrainian air force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat told Ukrainian television on the evening of the 16th that according to the current schedule, Kiev will not be able to use US-made F-16 fighter jets to defend Ukraine this autumn and winter.
U.S. officials have said privately that the F-16s are of little help in the current counteroffensive in Ukraine, and given Russian air defenses and competition over Ukraine, they won’t be “twist-turners” when they finally arrive in Ukraine.
The picture shows the F-16 fighter jet of the Danish Air Force.AFP Ukraine Russia Russo-Ukraine war
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