The United States has approved sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine from Denmark and the Netherlands to defend against Russian invaders as soon as pilot training is completed, a U.S. official said on Thursday.

“I am writing to express the United States’ full support for both the transfer of F-16 fighter aircraft to Ukraine and for the training of Ukrainian pilots by qualified F-16 instructors […] It remains critical that Ukraine is able to defend itself against ongoing Russian aggression and violation of its sovereignty” said Blinken.

Will this solidify a Ukrainian victory?

U.S. officials have privately said that F-16 jets would have been of little help to Ukraine in its current counteroffensive and will not be a game changer when they eventually arrive given Russian air defense systems and contested skies over Ukraine

Or will Russian radar and missle systems tear them up?

  • N1cknamed@feddit.nl
    94·
    1 year ago

    Every escalation is a step closer to nuclear war. I can understand the hesitation.

    • yetAnotherUser@feddit.de
      2·
      1 year ago

      Well, anything worsening the relation between nuclear powers could be considered a step closer to nuclear war. The question is how much of a step it is and how far away from nuclear war we are.

      • ☆ Yσɠƚԋσʂ ☆@lemmy.ml
        613·
        1 year ago

        Any sane person would want to actively work to reduce escalation between nuclear powers instead of finding out what the breaking point is.