- US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan declined to specify the total number of fighter jets to be transferred to Kiev or the exact timeline for their combat readiness
WASHINGTON, July 11/TASS/- The F-16 fighter jets being transferred by the West to Kiev will be stationed within Ukraine, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed to reporters.
“The F-16s will be based in Ukraine,” he said.
Sullivan did not provide details on whether these F-16s will take off from NATO bases when engaging Russian forces. He also declined to specify the total number of jets to be transferred or the exact timeline for their combat deployment.
“For operational reasons, I can’t share those details. However, the transfer is underway, and Ukrainian pilots will be operating F-16s in theater this summer,” Sullivan stated.
He emphasized that this equipment would aid Kiev in defending its frontline forces and in efforts to reclaim territory.
Russian President Vladimir Putin remarked that the delivery of new weapons, including F-16s, to Ukraine would not alter the battlefield dynamics but would prolong the conflict. He added that the jets would be as vulnerable to destruction as any other Western military equipment Ukraine might operate.
