President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has highlighted the effectiveness of F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine, noting that they recently intercepted seven Russian cruise missiles targeting Ukrainian infrastructure.
In an interview with Sky News, Zelenskyy said:
“Let’s talk about the F-16. Initially, there were fears they might draw NATO into the war. The same was said of HIMARS. The decision [to supply them] was made, but very late… How are the F-16s performing in Ukraine today? Very well, extremely well. We don’t have many, but they have already done a lot – they destroyed seven cruise missiles just two nights ago.”
He added that Ukraine’s fleet of F-16s remains insufficient, emphasising that the United States has the capacity to provide more:
“Does the US have a lot of them? Yes. Can they provide them to us? Yes. Why don’t they? I don’t know.”
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine has urged Western allies to supply modern F-16s. Several countries have stepped up in 2023, with deliveries already underway:
- Denmark has provided six F-16s, with a total of 19 promised.
- Norway announced plans to send its F-16s soon.
- October, the Netherlands delivered its first F-16s to Ukraine.
In August, Zelenskyy acknowledged the role of F-16s in repelling a significant Russian attack, expressing gratitude to Ukraine’s partners while reiterating the need for more fighters to bolster the defence.