Providing Ukraine With F-16 Aircraft Will Be The Best Investment Of Decade In Security Of Europe - Kuleba

Providing Ukraine with F-16 aircraft will be the best investment of this decade in the security of the European continent.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba said this at the Council of Foreign Ministers of the European Union on Monday, April 24, Ukrainian News Agency reports.

"There is no rational argument why Ukraine cannot get modern Western-type combat aircraft, and I am convinced that this decision will be adopted. Ukraine is the defender of Europe. Providing Ukraine with F-16 aircraft will be the best investment of this decade in the security of the European continent," Kuleba emphasized.

The Minister expressed his belief that the EU countries are able to play a leading role in making a decision to provide Ukraine with modern combat aircraft and thus demonstrate their strategic leadership.

Kuleba also emphasized that it is necessary to start training Ukrainian pilots on Western-type aircraft as soon as possible, so that Ukraine can immediately use them when they are provided.

"This will save the lives of our soldiers and civilians and guarantee Ukraine's superiority over the enemy in the air," he noted.

The Minister separately emphasized that the provision of F-16 to Ukraine and the integration of air and missile defense of Ukraine and neighboring EU countries will complete the formation of the infrastructure of a peaceful European sky.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, the spokesman of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Yurii Ihnat, said that for a successful counteroffensive, Ukraine needs to gain air superiority. He noted that it is desirable to make a decision as soon as possible to provide Ukraine with modern multi-purpose aircraft of generation 4+, primarily F-16, this would really help to quickly realize the Ukrainian dream of victory.