China News Service, February 25. According to the American Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), US President Biden said in an interview that he currently ruled out the delivery of US F16 fighter jets to Ukraine.
Data map: US President Biden.
Photo/China News Agency reporter Sha Hanting
Biden said, "No, he (Zelensky) does not need F16 fighter jets now... According to our military opinion, there is no reason to provide F16 fighter jets now. I currently rule out this option."
Biden said the United States is giving Ukraine what it really needs.
"He (Zelensky) needs tanks, artillery and anti-aircraft systems, including Hippocampus (Multiple Launch Rocket System). We are shipping what he needs now to be successful this spring and summer, transitioning into the fall ’” Biden said.
Biden reiterated that the U.S. will "support Ukraine in every possible way and will not waver."
Meanwhile, Biden said he had a "private conversation" with Zelensky about the supply of U.S. F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.
In addition, the US President's National Security Advisor Sullivan also said in an interview with CNN that the US believes that Ukraine does not need F16 fighter jets now.
Sullivan said, "They (Ukraine) are preparing for a counteroffensive. We believe that the F16 is not a key force in the counteroffensive." He also emphasized that the possibility of providing fighter jets is not a short-term problem, but a long-term problem.
Contacts in this regard have been ongoing.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has recently been asking the United States and its European allies to provide F16 fighter jets, a request that will become more urgent as Ukraine prepares to counterattack.
According to previous media reports, individual members of the US government are lobbying for the provision of F16 fighter jets to Ukraine.
When answering a reporter's question in January about whether he would provide Kiev with F16 fighter jets, Biden publicly stated "no."
French President Emmanuel Macron said he did not rule out the possibility of sending planes to Ukraine.
According to media reports, France is considering Kiev's request to train Ukrainian pilots.