Reports indicate that the US administration is considering allowing allied nations to move their F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, with CNN citing unnamed sources on Friday (May 19).
The White House appears to be signaling a non-blocking stance on supplying F-16s to European allies, noting ongoing pressure from Congress and other nations. At the same time, officials told the broadcaster that there have been no formal export requests for the aircraft, and the State Department had not yet received directions to process any releases.
Some officials question the expediency of delivering F-16s to Kyiv, arguing that Russian air defenses may limit the effectiveness of the fighters, which would translate into Ukrainian forces using the aircraft less frequently than anticipated. This perspective is discussed as part of the broader strategic debate surrounding delivery timelines and military utility.
On May 17, Vice President Jake Sullivan reiterated Washington’s position that the plans to provide F-16s to Ukraine remain in place and that there is no consideration of equipping Kyiv with fighter jets at this time, according to TASS.
According to the New York Times, US authorities reportedly do not permit Ukrainian pilots to train on F-16s operated by European partners, as Washington does not intend to transfer these jets to Kyiv. The Pentagon recently indicated that Ukrainian pilots could be trained to fly F-16s within approximately four months, rather than an anticipated eighteen.
“Coalition of Warriors”
During this week’s European Council summit in Reykjavik, British officials signaled collaboration with the Netherlands to build an international coalition aimed at securing F-16s for Ukraine from its partners. Earlier positions from Berlin, Washington, and London had suggested a hesitation to provide their own fighters directly to Kyiv.
While visiting Berlin on May 14, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke about negotiating the supply of fighter jets and described the aim of forming a coalition of nations ready to back Ukraine with aircraft as a key objective.
On May 17, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace asserted that London would not transfer the Eurofighter Typhoon to Kyiv, citing the lengthy process to train Ukrainian pilots as a deterrent.
Wallace remarked that the Eurofighter Typhoon would not be the preferred option at this moment. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius replied that Germany would not supply fighters to Ukraine in the near term and has limited capacity to train pilots or field aircraft. He noted that Berlin faces other challenges in assisting Kyiv and emphasized that Germany remains strong in tanks and air defense, pledging continued support in those areas.
On May 18, Norwegian Defense Minister Bjorn Arild Gram stated that the question of sending F-16s to Ukraine was on the agenda but did not indicate immediate action. He cautioned against speculating about potential future transfers of weapons systems, underscoring that nothing is decided at this time.