Stand behind Ukrainian independent journalism when it’s needed most. Help us reach 20,000 members.

Skip to content
Edit post

Official: Ukraine wants 40-50 F-16 fighter jets

by The Kyiv Independent news desk May 16, 2023 2:07 PM 1 min read
This audio is created with AI assistance

Yuriy Sak, an adviser to Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, has said that Ukraine wants between 40 and 50 F-16 fighter jets, Politico reported on May 16.

According to Sak, President Volodymyr Zelensky is hoping that providing Ukraine with advanced fighter jets will be at the top of the agenda during the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Hiroshima on May 19-21 and the forthcoming NATO summit in Vilnius this July.

Zelensky met with U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on May 16, who said that, although providing Ukraine with fighter jets was "not a straightforward thing," London would be "a key part of the coalition countries" providing Kyiv with that support.

Ukraine has already received 14 Soviet-era MiG-29s from Poland and 13 from Slovakia. However, Ukraine has shown the most interest in the U.S.-built F-16, in service since the 1970s and operated by over 20 nations.

Critics argue that allies' reluctance to supply F-16, Typhoon and Dassault fighter jets and long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine will prevent Kyiv from launching a counteroffensive and liberating the rest of Ukrainian territory.

Ukraine’s lack of advanced aircraft and missiles will likely prolong Russia’s war of aggression and result in thousands of deaths.

Ukraine war latest: Sunak announces more defense aid, promises UK will be ‘key part’ of ‘fighter jet coalition’
Key developments on May 15: * Zelensky meets with Sunak, new defense aid from UK announced * Sunak promises UK will be a “key part” of the “fighter jet coalition” * Ukraine’s military intelligence says around 152,000 Russian servicemembers preparing “defensive measures” in occupied Zaporizhzhia,…

Independent journalism needs a community —
not a paywall.

We’re working hard to show the world the truth of Russia’s brutal war — and we’re keeping it free for everyone, because reliable information should be available to all.

Our goal: reach 20,000 members to prove independent journalism can survive without paywalls, billionaires, or compromise. Will you help us do it?

Can we reach 20,000 members?

News Feed

12:47 AM

Pro-EU candidate appears to lead in Polish presidential run-off.

Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski is projected to have narrowly won Poland's presidential run-off election on June 1, according to an exit poll. The election has been widely seen as a pivotal moment for the country’s political future and stance on Ukraine.
MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.