World News | US president says ‘no’ to sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine

washington [US]Jan. 31 (ABC): US President Joe Biden said Monday that the US will not send F16 fighter jets to Ukraine, CNN reported.

When asked by reporters whether he would send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, Biden said “no.”

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Interestingly, the US has stepped up military aid to Ukraine in the form of artillery and tanks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been seeking fighter jets to help sustain his war effort against Russia. Biden has consistently said planes are off the table, even as he offers aid in other areas.

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Last week, Biden announced he would send 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, even though senior U.S. officials had previously said the heavy vehicles were unsuitable for the country’s military.

Speaking on the South Lawn of the White House, Biden also said he was not sure if he would visit Europe next month to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the war in Ukraine, according to CNN.

In response to another question, Biden said he planned to visit Poland but was unsure when.

Earlier, Biden offered Ukraine a $2.5 billion defense package to provide Ukraine with new weapons and ammunition as the country prepares for a new phase in its ongoing conflict with Russia.

Zelensky thanked the United States for its unwavering leadership.

Zelensky tweeted: “Thank you @POTUS for another strong $2.5B defense support package. Stryker infantry fighting vehicles, additional Bradley armored personnel carriers and Avenger air defense systems are Vital help in our fight against the invaders. Thank you people for your unwavering leadership and support!”

It is worth noting, however, that the defense package does not include the main battle tanks requested by Kyiv, but includes 90 Stryker armored personnel carriers, another 59 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, Avenger air defense System and size ammunition.

“The 59 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles contained in this package, together with the previously committed 50 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles on January 6, and 90 Stryker armored personnel carriers will provide Ukraine with two brigade’s armor capability,” it said.

Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said they had not received any request for fighter jets from Ukraine, CNN reported.

“We did not make such a request [from Ukraine],” Macron told a joint news conference in The Hague, where the two leaders are meeting to prepare for the next EU council meeting in February.

Macron said that while France had not received any requests, “in principle nothing is off-limits”. He insisted that the usefulness of each request must be carefully considered.

According to CNN, Macron said the requested weapons should not escalate the conflict. (Arnie)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)