As tanks arrive, Ukraine shifts focus to planes

in a press conference On Thursday, Deputy Defense Department Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said the F-16 had not “leaved the table,” but despite Ukraine’s request, nothing was yet to be announced.

Ukraine has been pushing the benchmark fighter jet in its war with Russia as it nears its one-year anniversary.

“With the F-16, it’s another challenging system to train on,” Singh said.

Singh answered several questions about the F-16, but “refuted” the US’s claim that Ukraine does not need air defense. She noted that the Patriot system is a key supporter of enhanced air defense.

“With regards to next steps, you know, I’m not going to be ahead of any package that hasn’t been announced or any decision by the president or the secretary of state,” Singer said.

“But I think, as you can see, our commitment to Ukraine remains very strong.”

German Chancellor Olaf Schulz is hesitant to send fighter jets to Ukraine.in a interview Shortly after Germany agreed to send the Leopard 2 tanks, Scholz joined the German newspaper Tagesspiegel in calling the debate on the jet “boring.”

“In fact we’ve only just made the decision [on sending tanks] The next debate will be in Germany, which looks boring,” he said.

Scholz said he was in regular communication with Russian President Vladimir Putin and made it clear that Russian intrusions were “unacceptable.” He also dismissed the notion that NATO was at war with Russia.

“We will not allow such an escalation,” he said.

The death toll from the Russian attack continued to climb on Sunday. Russia shells a bridge in Kherson, killing 3 and wounding 6. Shelling hit a warehouse, a hospital and a bus station, CNN reports.