US says NATO allies sending first F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says NATO allies have begun the transfer of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine “to make sure that Kiev can push back Russian forces on the front line."
The transfer of the first shipment of more than 60 US-made F-16 jets highlights efforts by President Joe Biden to provide more advanced weapons to the government of President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has promised to fight for “decisive actions” from Washington and Europe to help Kiev.
Speaking at a NATO 75th anniversary summit in Washington on Wednesday, Blinken said, "As we speak, the transfer of F-16 jets is underway, coming from Denmark, coming from the Netherlands.”
Blinken did not identify the number of F-16s being sent to Ukraine from the two countries but said the warplanes “will be flying in the skies of Ukraine this summer.”
He said Washington and its NATO allies want to “make sure that Ukraine can continue to effectively defend itself against the Russian aggression.”
NATO, Blinken said, is also sending a signal to President Vladimir Putin of Russia.
"It concentrates Vladimir Putin's mind on the fact that he will not outlast Ukraine, he will not outlast us and, if he persists, the damage that will continue to be done to Russia and its interests will only deepen.”
Biden first announced in June 2023 that NATO-partners would pledge to provide F-16s to Ukraine.
Kicking off this week’s NATO summit in Washington DC on Tuesday, the president also announced a new air defense system for Kiev.
Since Russia launched its “special military operation” in Ukraine in February 2022, Kiev has become far and away the top recipient of US weapons.
To date, the Biden administration has provided approximately $51.4 billion in military assistance to Kiev, the US State Department said in early July.
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