Follow live the latest news about the war in Ukraine
Follow live the latest news about the war in Ukraine
MADRID, 27 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Valeri Zaluzhni, spoke on Monday with the head of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mark Milley, to insist on the need to receive F-16 fighter jets.
As Zaluzhni has stated, the conversation has revolved around the need for arms supply in general, although “the need to strengthen the capabilities of the Ukrainian air defense system” has gained special prominence, reports UNIAN.
Once Germany unblocked the supply of Leopard main battle tanks, the Ukrainian authorities have now set these fighters as their main demand with which to also face Russia in the skies in the framework of a war that has already celebrated its first anniversary.
The ‘green light’ granted by Berlin for the sending of Leopards by those powers with these tanks in possession was accompanied by Washington’s announcement of sending more than thirty Abrams tanks.
It is for this reason that Zaluzhny has taken the opportunity to thank the United States for the constant support shown to Ukraine. “Every shell received, every unit of weapons and equipment is a life saved for Ukrainian military and civilians,” he said.
It is true that although Kiev has made an effort to claim combat aircraft, Ukraine’s main allies seem not to be in favor of such shipments, with the exception of the United Kingdom, which has acknowledged that the matter is on the table.
In fact, former British Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss have urged the current ‘premier’, Rishi Sunak, to take the initiative and “break the ice” by supplying fighter jets to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.