WASHINGTON, December 11. /TASS/. The US Department of State has permitted the potential sale of various equipment for F-16 fighter jets and related services worth $266.4 million in total to the Kiev government, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said.
"The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Ukraine of F-16 Sustainment Services and related equipment for an estimated cost of $266.4 million," the statement says.
Previously, the Kiev government requested from Washington permission to purchase various equipment and spare parts for these fighter jets, the statement says. Apart from that, the Ukrainian authorities requested various services related to maintenance and repairs of these aircraft.
"This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country," DSCA said.
The US believes that the deal "will improve Ukraine’s capability to meet current and future threats."
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress. The legislative body is to review the deal within 30 days.
Earlier, Vladimir Zelensky reported that another batch of F-16 fighter jets arrived in his country from Denmark. He did not specify the number of planes. The Danish government said in November that Ukraine has already received six F-16 fighters and 13 more are to arrive soon.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned that more weapons supplies to Kiev, including F-16s, will not be a gamechanger but rather prolong the conflict, with those fighter jets burning like any other touted Western military hardware.