Zelensky issued a worrying warning about Ukraine's incoming F-16s

On July 15th, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a stark warning about the F-16 fighter jets that his nation is set to receive from its international allies and partners. 

Zelensky warned that the incoming fighter jets planned to be delivered this year may not be enough to stop the Russian Air Force while speaking about the potential of the F-16. 

During a press conference, Zelensky said that “the decision to transfer F-16s to Ukraine was strategic, but their number was not strategic” according to a report from Newsweek. 

Newsweek journalist Isabel Van Brugen provided some context to Zelensky’s statement by adding that the United States and its allies have begun transferring F-16s to Ukraine. 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated at the beginning of July that F-16 fighter jets would be “flying in the skies of Ukraine this summer” to help effectively defend Ukraine. 

While Blinken's statement may have been true, Zelensky doesn’t see the number of jets provided by his allies as a game-changing weapon that will help Kyiv defend its territory. 

"I cannot say now how many of these aircraft there will be. They will not be enough - for what?” Zelensky explained, adding that the supply of fighter jets would help to strengthen Ukraine. 

The Ukrainian President went on to state: “Will there be enough of these aircraft to fight on par with the Russian air fleet?” before adding, “I believe that they will not be enough.”

Zelensky wasn’t entirely pessimistic, however. He also explained to reporters that he was expecting more F-16s but his comments revealed the reality of a very worrying situation. 

Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, and Belgium have all agreed to collectively provide over 60 airframes before the end of the summer, but sources suggest that isn’t possible. 

On July 12th, Bloomberg News reported that the drive to provide Ukraine with F-16 jets has been “bedeviled” by delays, worries about spare plane parts, and language barriers.  

Planners have also begun to worry that Ukraine may not have enough runway space for the number of F-16 it needs, and the runways it does have are vulnerable to air attacks. 

The result of the many issues facing Ukraine led Bloomberg to report that Kyiv may only be able to field one squadron of F-16s this summer, which is about 15 to 24 fighter jets. 

Bloomberg noted other sources have suggested Ukraine will only be receiving 20 F-16s before the end of summer, a number that is much less than the 300 airframes Ukrainian leaders wanted. 

How the F-16 will perform against Russian air power once the fighter jets are actually in Ukraine has yet to be seen, but some experts are warning they will not change the war.  

“People shouldn’t expect miracles,” stated Jim Townsend, a Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security. Whether this statement is true will likely be revealed soon. 

Never miss a story! Click here to follow The Daily Digest.