US National Security Council Communications Coordinator John Kirby said on Thursday that Ukraine may acquire F-16 fighters by the end of this year.
Kirby added, during an interview with “Fox News”, that what the Ukrainians need most at the present time is “to strengthen the capabilities of the artillery weapon in their army.”
He pointed out that another package of US aid to Ukraine will be announced soon, with a greater focus on sending ammunition to help Kiev regain the territories that Russia controlled.
A long-term military aid package
On Wednesday, the Pentagon announced a new package of long-term military assistance worth $1.3 billion to Ukraine. The aid package includes four air defense systems and an unknown number of drones. The new aid follows a meeting Tuesday of defense and military chiefs from around the world to discuss ongoing efforts to give Ukraine the weapons it needs in its fight to retake territory captured by Russian forces. The assistance, which is being provided under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, will include funding for four National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems or “NASAMS” and ammunition for them, as well as the “Phoenix Ghost” and “Switchblade” drones. Unlike the presidential recall authority that the Department of Defense has used repeatedly over the past 17 months to withdraw weapons from its own stockpile and ship them quickly to Ukraine, US-funded equipment may take a year or two to reach the battlefront. As a result, this new package will not do much to assist Ukraine in its current offensive, but will help defend its country in the future.
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2023-07-20 21:12:07
