HIROSHIMA /Japan/, May 20. /TASS/. The Kiev government has no need for US-made F-16 fighter jets at the moment, but may need them in the future, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Saturday.
"Our view is that where the F-16 fits into the fight is not right now," he told reporters on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima, when asked why the US government did not begin to train Ukrainian pilots a few months ago. "We feel that we will be in the position to give them what they need for that future force when they need it."
At the same time Sullivan admitted that the number of Soviet-made fighter aircraft in service with the Ukrainian armed forces has been dwindling, at this prompts Washington to authorize F-16 deliveries to Kiev.
NBC reported on Friday citing a source in the US administration that the US and its allies intend to ship F-16 jets to Ukraine. The planes may be supplied by Washington’s allies, the report said.