President Biden's Adviser Ensures The F-16 Fighter Jets Sent By The West Will Be Based In Ukraine

Illustration of the US F-16 fighter jet base. (Wikimedia Commons/US Army/STAff Sigt. Tierney P. Wilson)

JAKARTA - Fighter jets sent by Western countries and are predicted to expand in Ukraine's skies this summer, are certain to be based in the country.

United States National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters the F-16 fighter jets to be transferred by Western allies to Kyiv are confirmed to be based within Ukrainian territory.

"The F-16 will be based in Ukraine," he said, launching TASS July 12.

However, he did not provide details when asked if Ukraine's F-16 would take off from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) base when it would operate against Russia on the battlefield.

In addition, Sullivan also declined to say how many fighter jets would be transferred to Kyiv in total and when exactly would start a combat mission.

"Those are things I cannot convey for operational reasons. What we say is that transfers are ongoing, and that Ukrainian pilots will be operating on the battlefield this summer with the F-16," he said.

He added the fighter jet would help Kyiv "maintain troops at the forefront, as well as assist Ukraine in its efforts to retake its territory."

Earlier, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that the first batch of US-made F-16 fighter jets had been transferred to Ukraine from Denmark and the Netherlands, soon breeding this summer.

Speaking at an event on the sidelines of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) meeting in Washington DC, Blinken said a strong package for Ukraine to be launched in the next few days would build a clear and strong bridge for Ukraine's membership in NATO.

"I'm also pleased to announce that as we speak, the F-16 jet transfer is underway, coming from Denmark, coming from the Netherlands," Foreign Minister Blinken said.

"And the jets will fly in Ukraine's skies this summer to ensure that Ukraine can continue to defend itself effectively against Russian aggression."

Strengthening air defenses is critical to Ukraine against the Russian invasion. Because Moscow again launched airstrikes against Ukraine's national power grid in the spring, which caused massive power cuts.

Separately, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the new arms shipments, including the F-16, to Ukraine would not change the situation on the battlefield, but would lead to an extension of the situation.

He also noted that the fighter jets, if Ukraine operated them, would catch fire as well as other West military equipment that was widely praised.