US President Joe Biden has not sent F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, dealing a blow to Kyiv’s push to secure the fighter jets just a week after Washington and Berlin agreed to provide them with tanks.
Asked by reporters on Monday whether the US would supply F-16 jets to Ukraine, Biden simply replied: “No.”
The decision by the US and Germany to supply main battle tanks to Kyiv has fueled discussions about whether western countries will send F-16 jets, which Ukrainian officials say will help maintain an important advantage in the skies.
The F-16 is made by Lockheed Martin, the largest US defense contractor. The US government must approve the sale, and transfer to third countries, of American-made fighter jets.
Biden’s comments marked the first time he has publicly addressed the issue, although it was unclear whether he would not send the jets indefinitely.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has also ruled out sending fighter jets to Ukraine. However, the US and other powers have reversed their position on weapons before, previously saying they would not provide Kyiv with main battle tanks, only to backpedal later.
Last week, the Financial Times reported that several other hawkish European countries had preliminary discussions about re-exporting F-16s directly to Ukraine. Other countries have supported the focus on the smooth delivery of the tanks that the western allies are doing.
Even if the US approves the sale or transfer of F-16s to Ukraine, training pilots to use the advanced aircraft will take months. Lockheed Martin said it was ready to help resupply other countries that might choose to move the jets.
Ukrainian officials are pushing to secure help from the US and other partners to prepare for a new offensive in the spring.
Washington has so far resisted calls to send the F-16s, fearing the move could escalate, although some American officials have recently expressed openness to discussing the matter.
Asked whether the U.S. was considering sending fighter jets last week, deputy national security adviser Jon Finer told MSNBC the administration would “discuss this very carefully” with Ukraine and not rule out specific systems.