Kuleba: Giving Ukraine F-16s would be the decade’s best security investment for Europe

Supply of advanced fighter aircraft to Ukraine will be the best investment in the long-term security of Europe and should be approved as soon as possible, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Monday at the EU Foreign Affairs Council, according to a Foreign Ministry report.

“There are no rational arguments why Ukraine should not receive modern Western fighter aircraft, and I am convinced this decision will be made. Ukraine is Europe’s defender. Providing Ukraine with F-16s will be the best investment of this decade in the security of the European continent,” Kuleba emphasized.

The minister said he is sure that the EU countries could play a leading role in the decision to provide Ukraine with modern combat aircraft, thus demonstrating their strategic leadership.

“It is necessary to start training Ukrainian pilots on Western aircraft as soon as possible so that when they are provided, we can use them immediately. This will save the lives of our soldiers and civilians and ensure Ukraine’s air superiority over the enemy,” he said.

Kuleba stressed that providing F-16s to Ukraine and integrating its air and missile defense with its EU neighbors would complete forming a peaceful European sky infrastructure.

He also thanked EU partners for the defense assistance already provided and urged them to make new necessary decisions ASAP. “There are no shortcuts to peace unless the Russian army is defeated. The time will come for white diplomatic gloves. But first, we must supply enough shells for the tired and oily hands of our artillerymen,” Kuleba twitted.

At FAC today, I thanked EU partners for all the defence assistance already provided. I also urged them to adopt new necessary decisions ASAP. There are no shortcuts to peace unless the Russian army is defeated. The time will come for white diplomatic gloves. But first we must… pic.twitter.com/C1yaozhAIH

— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) April 24, 2023