"These are not arguments, they are excuses, and they keep coming up with them time and time again,” the head of the arms procurement commission in Kiev's parliament, Aleksandra Ustinova, has claimed.
The training delays are likely motivated by Washington’s fear that a large-scale presence of US F-16s in the Ukraine conflict could be viewed by Moscow as the integration of the country into NATO, Ustinova told The Times.
“This is totally political.”
So far only eight Ukrainian pilots have received training at the Morris Air National Guard Base in Tucson, Arizona, Ustinova told British newspaper The Times in an interview published on Monday. An additional 12 are being trained in Denmark, she added.
F-16s are needed to help mitigate the effect of Russian glide bombs on the battlefield, a weapon that has shown devastating effectiveness in the Ukraine conflict, Ustinova stressed. “These bombs are huge – from 500 kilos to 1,500 kilos,” and for Kiev, the only solution is to “bring them down is jet-to-jet.”
Moscow has repeatedly warned that Western arms deliveries will not change the course of the conflict, and only prolong it, causing more deaths. The Russian Parliament’s Defense Committee chair, Andrey Kartapolov, replied to Kiev’s statements about plans for some F-16s to be stationed outside Ukraine. Should the aircraft take off from foreign bases and be used to strike at Russian forces, both the jets and the facilities they are stationed at will be considered “legitimate targets,” Kartapolov warned
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@9PHPBR6Independent2yrs2Y
The US should stop meddling in this conflict and respect Russia's stance that Ukraine shall not be admitted to NATO as it is a sign of aggression toward their sovereignty. NATO weapons on Russia's doorstep have always been a "do not cross" line. Besides, the Cold War has been over for about 35 years.
I'm no big fan of Ronald Reagan but he was 100% right when he said, "peace through strength". Ukraine was a sitting duck without a modern military and Russia tried to overrun them. At the last minute, we supplied them with modern shoulder fired weapons and they held off the Russian advance. But they had outdated Soviet style tanks, no long range artillery, and only a few dozen Soviet MIG fighters. Their military was nowhere near NATO standards. Through sheer grit, courage and determination, they have done a fantastic job holding off a much larger enemy. An enemy, who doesn't care about their own losses, and keeps throwing bodies at them.
The Ukrainians are not valiant heroes defending "democracy" (snort) against an evil totalitarian state. The Ukrainian government is nothing but a cadre of bloodthirsty authoritarians who have, need I remind you, banned opposition political parties, persecuted a dissenting religious denomination, drafted innocent boys to die in a hopeless war, and, most importantly, ENDED ELECTIONS. These are, even by the Left's own definition of "democracy," flagrantly anti-democratic and evil moves. We cannot in good conscience continue to give money to these monsters. We are not the policeman of the world, and we have no right to be involved. We're only making everything worse.
How does MAGA Mike Johnson sleep at night?
The brave Ukrainian people and our European allies desperately need our support.
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing,” Aleksei Navalny
"MAGA Mike Johnson" is actually a rabid neocon who continues to push for hundreds of billions in funding for Ukraine, against the wishes of more than HALF of congressional Republicans. (That's why he should be OUSTED). So why on earth are you blaming him? Are you just repeating the CNN Propaganda without doing your research?
@ExuberantLynxDemocrat2yrs2Y
I encourage U.S. citizens to call their federal congressional representatives and urge them to pass the aid package to Ukraine. Do not send an email, make their staff take down your message.
Hopefully, the F-16s are airborne as soon as possible. The Danish have put it simply and adequately: Ukraine's fight is Europe's fight. I simply hope that support from Western allies keeps up and doesn't fade out due to the American hesitancy and therefore all-too-common European diffusion of responsability.
@SwiftDannyRepublican2yrs2Y
You want to stop Putin’s aggression? Air power is the key to successful Ukrainian resistance. Without it, the Russians will grind on and continue to advance. It is incumbent upon NATO nations to get the planes delivered and the pilots trained and qualified ASAP. There can be no higher priority.
@DrearyPieDemocrat2yrs2Y
I hope american voters kick out all members of Congress who oppose helping Ukraine.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
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