F-16 will not be involved in the Armed Forces counter-offensive: Zelensky and Biden about the results of negotiations
"We really worked politically with partners for a long time and powerfully to get the desired result - to strengthen our sky except for air defense," he said. The President thanked the US and other partners for military assistance, including air defense systems. However, he stressed that these remedies are still not enough. "The training mission is open today. This is the first step. There is a corresponding number of months to teach our pilots.
We will work so that these people are as experienced immediately to reduce the learning process," Zelensky said. What countries and how many fighters can provide, the leader did not tell. He also did not comment on the timing of aviation supply. "I can't tell you now how much we can get aircraft. I can't tell you exactly when it will be. But we will accelerate, because it is important to us - we lose people every day," Zelensky explained.
The discussion of the F-16 was also commented on US President Joe Biden. This was known from May 21 by the publication of "Voice of America" recording of a briefing broadcast following the summit of "Greater Seven" in Japan. "I told Zelensky that the training of Ukrainian pilots on the fourth generation aircraft, including the F-16 to support Ukraine's ability to protect itself," said the American leader.
Biden said that the F-16 will hardly be used during the planned offensive of the Armed Forces, but will be needed if successful. The President of the United States said he had received Zelensky's assurance of US fighters only for the liberation of Ukrainian territories. The colleague assured him that the defenders would not cross the border from the Russian Federation on the aircraft provided by partners. We will remind, also Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Joe Biden commented on the situation in Bakhmut.