The final decision on providing Ukraine with F-16 fighters depends on the United States, Berlin and London cannot transfer them. This was stated by the Ministers of Defense of Germany and Great Britain, Boris Pistorius and Ben Wallace, during a joint press conference in Berlin.
"You know that Ukraine prefers F-16s, we don't have them in our arsenal," Wallace said.
The British Defense Minister said that his country is not going to provide Ukraine with fighter jets, particularly the Typhoon, "as it is not something that may be needed."
"We clearly emphasize that it is not about providing weapons systems. It is about providing a platform... What we are talking about is the stability of Ukraine, how Ukraine can remain capable, how they can deter (Russian aggression, ed.). more combat capabilities will be needed," Wallace noted.
He added that "no country in Europe" is going to send its troops into Ukraine during the war, so it is important to focus on the training of fighters.
"It is important to lay the foundations and help in the preparation of cohorts of Ukrainians to fly airplanes for a long time. Regardless of which airplane they decide to buy, this is what is important to discuss now," the minister emphasized.
In turn, Pistorius said: "We are focused on what is our competence. Germany does not have an F-16. Neither the Tornado nor the Eurofighter Typhoon are suitable... This is not an issue that is being resolved in Berlin, it is being resolved in the White House."
The minister noted that Germany is a "leader in supporting Ukraine", its priority is to supply weapons "that can be used immediately".
"First of all, it's about delivering what is still needed, and at the same time delivering what is also sustainable, both logistically and in terms of maintenance and repair... We are focusing on Ukraine's air defense, on delivering more ammunition and repair of the equipment that was delivered earlier. These are our priorities," Pistorius explained, adding that Berlin "does not play an active role" in the coalition because it "doesn't have the planes or the appropriate competence."
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte agreed to work on the creation of an international fighter coalition to provide Ukraine with F-16 aircraft.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that he does not see pressure on Germany in the discussion on the supply of fighter jets to Ukraine. The country's Ministry of Defense indicated that the Bundeswehr still understands that aircraft from its own stocks "will not be available for this purpose."
