Ukrainian and Western officials do not believe that F-16 fighters will be able to change the situation on the battlefield, according to the American newspaper The Washington Post.
"Long-awaited F-16 fighter jets are set to be flying in Ukraine within weeks, but Ukrainian and Western officials now caution that the aircraft, once championed by Kiev as a game changer, are unlikely to make an immediate impact on the battlefield," the report read.
This is partly due to the small number of fighters being supplied and the large number of Russian air defense systems, the report read.
According to the publication, the first F-16s will be used to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense. According to officials, the fighters are unlikely to approach the front line too closely, at least in the initial stages.
As the newspaper noted, officials declined to specify the exact number of fighters that Ukraine will receive this year, but it will be no more than one squadron—around 20 aircraft.
Earlier, it was reported that Ukraine would receive the first F-16 fighters this summer.
Russia believes that supplying weapons to Ukraine hinders resolution efforts, directly involves NATO countries in the conflict, and is a "game with fire." Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted that any shipments containing weapons for Ukraine will become a legitimate target for Russia.
According to him, the US and NATO are directly involved in the conflict, not only by supplying weapons but also by training personnel in the UK, Germany, Italy, and other countries. The Kremlin stated that the West’s inflow of weapons into Ukraine does not contribute to negotiations and will have a negative effect.