Ukraine states it will be unable to utilize F-16 fighters this year
Ukraine will not be able to use F-16 fighter jets in the coming autumn or winter, said the spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force on Wednesday.
Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galkushchenko, on the other hand, announced that Kiev will not participate in discussions on the renewal of the gas transit agreement, which is set to expire next year, with Russia. Follow the latest developments in the Ukraine war hour by hour.
Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galkushchenko said on Wednesday that Kiev will not participate in discussions on the renewal of the gas transit agreement, which is set to expire next year, with Russia. “It is absolutely clear that we will not participate in discussions with the Russians,” said Galkushchenko to the Ukrainian service of the Voice of America.
Russia has indicated that it would consider extending this agreement, which allows it to deliver its gas to Europe via Ukraine, beyond 2024 if the European Union needs these supplies. The EU has committed to ending its dependence on Russian gas by 2027.
Galkushchenko said there is a high chance that there will be no demand for Russian gas in European countries. “Next year will show if Europe can function without Russian gas,” Voice of America reported, citing the minister.
Ukraine will not be able to use F-16 fighter jets in the coming autumn or winter, said Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yuriy Ignat on Wednesday. “It is already evident that we will not be able to defend Ukraine using F-16 fighters this autumn or winter,” he said on Ukrainian television.
Ukraine has regularly called on its Western allies to provide it with F-16 fighter jets, which, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, would be a sign that the Russian invasion would result in defeat.
US President Joe Biden approved the training of Ukrainian pilots on US-designed F-16s in May, but no timetable for the delivery of the aircraft has been announced yet. “We had high hopes for this aircraft to be part of our air defense, capable of protecting us from Russian missiles and drone attacks,” said Yuriy Ignat.
On Wednesday, Ukraine announced that a first commercial cargo had left the port of Odessa, defying Russia, which threatens to sink such ships since it ended the agreement allowing the export of Ukrainian cereals.
Meanwhile, Moscow attacked grain silos and warehouses at one of the Ukrainian ports on the Danube River.
Reuters
