© Ezra Acayan/Getty ImagesFILE PHOTO: US Air Force F-16 fighter jets fly in formation during joint exercises in the Philippines.
A Downing Street spokesperson said Sunak and Rutte "would work to build an international coalition to provide Ukraine with combat air capabilities, supporting with everything from training to procuring F-16 jets".
Comment: An 'international coalition' of whom, exactly? Is this similar to the 'international community' sanctioning Russia?
'The international community' highlighted in yellow.
"The prime minister reiterated his belief that Ukraine's rightful place is in Nato and the leaders agreed on the importance of allies providing long-term security assistance to Ukraine to guarantee they can deter against future attacks.
"The leaders agreed to continue working together both bilaterally and through forums such as the European Political Community to tackle the scourge of people trafficking on our continent."
The statement on Tuesday came a day after Ukraine's president hinted that Kyiv could soon receive F-16 fighter jets, saying he was hopeful of "very important" decisions on the subject with the help of the UK.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy flew in by helicopter for a one-to-one unannounced meeting with Sunak on Monday at Chequers, the prime minister's country retreat.
Standing next to Sunak after the meeting, Zelenskiy said they had discussed fighter planes "because we can't control the sky", and was positive about persuading the US and other western nations to supply aircraft.
"We spoke about it and I see that in the closest time you will hear some, I think, very important decisions, but we have to work a little bit more on it," he said.
At the meeting, Britain also promised to supply "hundreds of attack drones".
Comment: Which Ukraine will use to target innocent Ukrainian, and Russian, civilians? Ukrainian kamikaze drone crashes before reaching Russian gas plant target, Russian authorities close airspace over St. Petersburg
The UK said in February that it would begin training Ukrainian pilots in standard Nato techniques, and No 10 repeated that on Monday, saying the plan was to help "build a new Ukrainian air force with Nato-standard F-16 jets".
Britain does not use F-16s, which are made by the US defence firm Lockheed Martin in South Carolina.
Comment: The US defense, as well as gas and oil industry, appear to be profiting rather handsomely from this conflict.
Ukraine has been seeking to obtain them for some time to augment its small Soviet-standard air force because they are widely available, with about 3,000 in service in 25 countries.
Both countries will have to persuade the US if Ukraine is to receive F-16s. Asked later on Monday if the US had changed its position on supplying the jets to Ukraine, John Kirby, a spokesperson for the White House's national security council, gave a one-word reply: "No."
Reader Comments
Still it makes the alternative media sensation tick along ....
Putin and Zelensky are definately winning this war so far.
F16's??? Third world country toys?
This gets more ridiculous and absolutely devilish by the day.
Putin? Wth... are you a real warrior or just part of the act? End Zelensky...
A question that resurfaces now and then in my mind.
Do they really not get it ?
Fighter jets are useless without air supremacy. And Russia arguably has the best air defense systems in the world.
Fighter jets are and will always remain limited in speed and maneuverability. Speeds near and beyond Mach 2 are not maintainable for longer periods, due to fuel consumption and heating problems.
And fighter pilots are only human, they pass out at turn rates of 9 G or beyond. A missile has no such limitations, and will always outmaneuver a jet - if properly designed. Besides of ground-based ADS, Russian jets carry air-to-air missiles that can do so at a 100-mile range.
I see two possible explanations right now:
— it's just kind of excuse, why the Ukraine has no success during its „(counter)offensives” („we perform badly because you didn't give us F16s”), so the brand and model of the fighter jet doesn't really matter
— it's exactly because Poland has some F16s, and we're going soon to witness „Poland will generously transfer its F16s to Ukraine, that it's fighting the barbarian invaders”
The Ukraine has basically no pilots left, even the retired and re-activated grisled one's had been shot down now. And not only does it take years to become proficient, pilots go through a rigorous selection process. The level of stress, perceptional demands and physical fitness is immense. Many millions of $$$ can be lost with the flip of a (wrong) switch, literally. Or id you pass out due to G forces.
It is all media thater.
Wackepedia also names : Belgium, Bulgaria, Danmark, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, and Slovakia. Most of that countries having less than 50, some significantly less.
All in total less than the Ukraine had Su- and MiG- jets at the beginning of this conflict.
Perfect prospects, if you ask me ...
Belgium to join in on "training Ukrainian fighter pilots".
So, we can soon expect Belgians in Nazi uniforms flying East, and 6-ft aluminium boxes flying West two days later.
They're ok...have no fear.
My grandfather was a WWII pilot - I know what a Sopwith Camel is, without looking it up ...
Who is Snoopy ?
But thinking about it ... WWI planes were mostly wood and canvas, only the engine and the machine gun were solid metal. They might have a chance to get through the radar, at least a while longer than F-16, F-22, or Spitfires.