China News Service, January 31, "We must make time our weapon. We must speed up activities, speed up supply, and open up new weapon options for Ukraine." Only a few days after Germany and the United States agreed to provide main tanks, Ukraine President Zelensky further continued to call on the West to provide fighter jets and long-range missiles.

However, on whether to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets, the views of the West seem to be inconsistent.

Virtue: no

　　According to the US "Capitol Hill" report, on the 30th, when a reporter asked whether Washington would deliver F-16 fighter jets to Kyiv, US President Biden gave a short answer-"NO (no)".

Data map; US President Biden.

　　Last week, the United States announced that it would provide Ukraine with 31 "Abrams" main battle tanks. Subsequently, Ukraine was optimistic about receiving F-16 fighter jets from the United States and its Western allies.

The Pentagon said earlier that the United States did not rule out the possibility of supplying Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets.

Biden's deputy national security adviser, Jon Fenner, also said on the 26th that the United States will "very cautiously" discuss the idea of ​​providing fighter jets with Kyiv and its allies.

　　However, Biden's latest statement shows that the United States will not provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets.

　　In addition, German Chancellor Scholz also reiterated that he will not provide fighter jets to Ukraine to avoid the risk of an escalation of the situation between Russia and Ukraine.

　　Scholz emphasized that there cannot be an ongoing bidding war when it comes to weapons systems.

Germany’s decision last week to supply Ukraine with tanks “is followed by another round of debate on whether it should provide fighter jets, which would appear hasty and undermine people’s confidence in the government’s decision.”

　　Scholz also warned against raising the "risk of escalation" as Moscow has sharply condemned the West's decision to supply the tanks.

　　Scholz believes that it is "necessary" to continue the dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and he will speak with Putin again on the phone.

Farnese: Conditional

　　Regarding whether to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets, French President Macron and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte also gave an answer after meeting in The Hague, Netherlands on the 30th.

Data map: French President Macron.

　　At the joint press conference held that day, Macron said that as long as certain conditions are met, "we will not rule out the type of military aid in advance."

　　According to the Associated Press, the conditions listed by Macron include that the provision of such armaments will not lead to escalation or be used to "attack Russian territory" and that it will not "degrade the capabilities of the French military."

　　France has previously provided Ukraine with air defense systems, rocket launchers, artillery and other military equipment, and promised to send armored reconnaissance vehicles and combat vehicles, but not main battle tanks or other heavy weapons, the report said.

　　Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said at the press conference that he has not yet received Ukraine's request to provide F-16 fighter jets, but similar applications may be considered.

"As for the F-16 fighter jets, we have not received such a request (from Ukraine), but if we did, it would be a very important next step. We will consider this request and consult with our allies ’” Rutte said.

　　The Dutch foreign minister told lawmakers there was "no taboo" when it came to the armament the Netherlands could supply to Ukraine.

But Rutte took a more "cautious" approach. He said: "No taboo will be a very important next step. We continue to support Ukraine, but it is very important that the Ukrainian president expresses their needs to us."

Why does Ukraine keep calling for more arms aid?

　　According to Ukrainian President Zelensky, the Ukrainian army is facing a difficult situation of continuous attacks in the Donetsk region.

　　"The situation is very serious. In Bakhmut, Wuhledar and other areas in the Donetsk region, people are constantly trying to break through our defense lines." Zelensky said in a night video speech on the 29th.

　　Zelensky previously said that Ukraine needed the US-made Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) with a range of 300 kilometers.

However, Washington has so far refused to provide such missiles.

An adviser to the Ukrainian president said negotiations were underway to supply long-range missiles, and a spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force also talked about negotiations to supply fighter jets.

Data map: American F-16 fighter jet.

　　According to reports, the American F-16 fighter jet was first developed in 1970. It has extremely high agility and can carry 6 air-to-air or air-to-ground missiles.

At present, European and American countries are purchasing the latest F-35 fighter jets to replace the aging F-16 fighter jets.

Most of the fighter jets of the Ukrainian Air Force are products of the Soviet era. Therefore, the acquisition of F-16 fighter jets will bring a significant improvement to the Ukrainian Air Force.

　　Russian military expert Vasily Dandekin believes that it is meaningless for the West to provide fighter jets to Ukraine.

The entire territory of Ukraine, including runways and airports, is within the strike range of Russian fighter jets and long-range missiles.

If a fighter plane is transferred from the West to Ukraine, the Russian air defense system is also capable of shooting it down.