It is Russia at ‘colossal risk’ from our fighter jets, counters Biden
US president stands by Ukraine and is assured by Zelensky that F-16s will not operate on enemy soil
JOE BIDEN said the delivery of F-16 jets to Ukraine represents a “colossal risk” to Russia as he directed the Kremlin’s own words back at Vladimir Putin.
Leaders of the G7 richest democracies said they would not stop supporting Ukraine, after the US approved the possible transfer of Western jets.
When Mr Biden was asked at the summit in Hiroshima weather he agreed with Russia’s statement that supplying F-16s is a “colossal risk” , he replied: “It is, for them.”
Earlier in the day Mr Biden said Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, had given Washington a “flat assurance” that F-16 fighters will not attack Russian soil.
The US offer of F-16s constitutes a significant upgrade from Kyiv’s Cold Warera fleet for Migs and Sukhois but some warned that their use could cast into question the defensive nature of weapons the West is now providing.
“I have a flat assurance from Zelensky that they will not use it to move on to Russian geographic territory, but wherever Russian troops are within Ukraine and the area, they would be able to do that,” Mr Biden told reporters at the G7 summit in Hiroshima.
A small number of European countries have F-16s, including the Netherlands which is willing to export some to Ukraine, while the UK has said it could help with training.
However, the US has to approve any such third-party transfer to Ukraine because of the jets’ technology.
Ukraine has lost at least 60 of the 145 fixed-wing aircraft it possessed before the war began, according to classified Pentagon documents leaked online.
Kyiv wants the F-16s because they can locate targets from hundreds of miles away, allowing pilots to fly over Ukraine-held territory rather than risk straying closer to enemy air defences. They could also ward off Russian jets which have started firing glide bombs from 30 miles from the front.
Mr Biden’s remarks came as Mr Zelensky secured more arms, munitions and diplomatic support after two days of talks in the Japanese city.
The White House unveiled a $375 million package of US aid that includes ammunition for HIMAR rocket launchers, artillery shells, anti-tank guided missiles and thermal imaging systems.
Mr Zelensky visited the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, where he laid flowers to commemorate the 1945 atomic bomb. In a speech to G7 leaders, the Ukrainian President said he was “grateful for the decision to train our pilots on modern fighter aircrafts”.
“The air shield can only be complete when ground-based air defence systems are complemented by modern aircraft,” he said. “When our pilots know the F-16 and they appear in our skies, it will matter not only for Ukraine but will be a historic moment for security architecture in Europe and the world.”
He also praised Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for his “energy that gives more visionary and far-reaching capabilities”. “I believe your leadership will help to give true force of law when, together with our partners, we’ll create the tribunal on Russia’s aggression,” he said.
Mr Zelensky also met Indian prime minister Narendra Modi. He briefed him on Ukraine’s peace plan, which calls for the withdrawal of Russian troops before talks.
India, a major buyer of Russian arms and oil, has avoided condemnation of the invasion.
However, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, who has accused the West of “encouraging the war”, did not meet Mr Zelensky. While Mr Lula condemned the “violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity”, he also took aim at members of the UN Security Council. He said: “Permanent members continue the tradition of waging unauthorised wars, whether in pursuit of territorial expansion or in pursuit of regime change,” an apparent reference to the Us-led Iraq war.
‘When our pilots know the F-16 and they appear in our skies, it will matter not only for Ukraine but Europe and the world’