During a meeting with military observers in Washington on May 22, US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said that Western F-5 fighter-bombers would be deployed in Ukraine.
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| The delivery of the fourth-generation F-16 fighter jet to Ukraine is a top priority for the United States. (Source: US Air National Guard) |
When asked if the fighters would be stationed on the territory of a NATO country, Kendall replied: "If the vehicles become part of the Ukrainian Air Force, I think they will be deployed in Ukraine."
On the same day, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that the delivery of fourth-generation F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine is a top priority for Washington.
According to Mr. Miller, implementation of the supply plan will begin in the coming months. The ministry could not answer the question of which country would be involved in providing equipment and training Ukrainian pilots.
Earlier, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan also had a similar answer about who will transfer F-16s to Kiev - Washington or European countries.
On the Ukrainian side, on May 22, the spokesman of the country's Air Force (VVSU) Yuriy Ignat said that Kiev is preparing to receive from 5-12 F-18 fighters, however, "Western partners plan to supply more - about 16".
Ignat's announcement shows that Western countries will most likely not deliver each fighter, but will send a whole squadron at once. Earlier, Ukraine announced its desire to receive up to 50 F-16 fighter jets.
Meanwhile, the sheet Politico quoted the adviser of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense Yuriy Sak as saying that the Netherlands could become the first country to supply F-16s to Kiev.
Regarding the case of Belgorod province (Russia) being infiltrated by a group of commandos on May 22, the head of the province Vyacheslav Gladkov said that Russian forces shot down unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in this area with anti-aircraft weapons.
Moscow accuses them of being a group of Ukrainian commandos and Russian security forces are currently taking all measures to destroy them.
However, Kiev has denied involvement in the incident and is "closely monitoring events in this area" and studying the situation.
The United States has made it clear to Kiev that Washington "does not facilitate or encourage Kiev to attack targets outside Ukraine's borders," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.
