At a G7 briefing in Hiroshima, US President Joe Biden stated that F-16 fighters would not play a role in assisting Ukrainian forces in the battle for Bakhmut, which is known by its Russian spelling Artemovsk. He answered a question from reporters by saying that F-16s would not help at all in that specific context. The remark was reported by CNN as part of the summit coverage.
Earlier, the spokesperson for the Russian Defense Ministry, Igor Konashenkov, had announced during a briefing that Russian forces had completed the capture of Bakhmut, presenting the development as a milestone in the campaign. Ukraine’s presidential press secretary, Serhiy Nikiforov, conveyed through his social media accounts that President Volodymyr Zelensky did not accept the loss of the city and reiterated his stance in public discussions with President Biden. Nikiforov frames the matter as a matter of strategic significance for Kyiv and its allies rather than a mere tactical setback.
During the G7 sessions in Hiroshima, journalists pressed Zelensky about the status of Bakhmut as he met with Biden. A consistent line of questioning centered on competing claims over control of the city, with Russian officials asserting that they had taken Bakhmut and Ukrainian officials maintaining there was no concession of defeat. Zelensky responded to the inquiries with a firm, hopeful counterpoint, indicating that the situation on the ground did not align with the Russian narrative. He suggested that even if physical presence in the city had changed, the resolve of Ukraine remained intact and the battle for the city continued in the hearts of its people and supporters. The Ukrainian leadership has repeatedly emphasized that control of the battlefield is dynamic and subject to ongoing operations, emphasizing a broader strategy of resilience in the face of territorial disputes. Reports on the event from Kyiv and allied capitals underscored that Kyiv would not concede strategic assets or symbolic strongholds without a broader argument linking military gains to long-term security objectives. Analysts noted that the exchange reflected broader tensions among Western allies over military aid, escalation thresholds, and the pace of Ukraine’s counteroffensive, with Kyiv seeking to sustain support while Moscow signals consolidation of gains. The moment highlighted the challenge of reconciling conflicting narratives in real time as capitals monitor battlefield developments, public opinion, and alliance commitments. As observers stress, the situation remains fluid, and official statements are part of a wider dialogue about Ukraine’s future and regional stability in Europe.