Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has stated that Ukraine is working with Western partners to obtain the first squadron of foreign combat aircraft.

Source: Kuleba on air during national joint 24/7 newscast on 6 February, as quoted by the Ministry’s press service

Quote from Kuleba: "It is not important whether it will be an American F-16, a Swedish Gripen, a French Mirage or Rafale, or a Eurofighter. It is important to open a position, remove the taboo and receive the first squadron of aircraft. Then, taking into consideration the availability and the serviceability, we can decide on which model to make the main bet," the minister believes.

Details: Kuleba specified that the base model for Ukraine, considering the supply and access to maintenance, is the American F-16. But this will not necessarily be the first foreign combat aircraft that Ukraine will receive.

"I have no doubt that we will open the possibility of supplying combat aircraft," Kuleba emphasised. He added that the only barriers for partners to provide combat aircraft to Ukraine are psychological.

He recapped that the same obstacles once stood in the way of receiving HIMARS systems, Patriot surface-to-air missiles and Western tanks, but Ukraine always managed to overcome barriers and unblock the supply of these types of weapons.

"Ukraine has assembled a kind of tank zoo. We have a decision to provide Ukraine with Leopard, Challenger, Abrams and we are working on obtaining French Leclerc tanks. The main thing here is to open a position," Kuleba said.

The minister remarked that none of the partners’ fears regarding the supply of previous types of weapons to Ukraine have been justified. Therefore, in his opinion, the fears and apprehensions regarding the supply of foreign combat aircraft to Ukraine will not be justified either, so a decision should be made as soon as possible.

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