Conditions on the battlefield in Ukraine are "not ideal" for F-16s — US Joint Staff's Director of Operations

American Lieutenant General Douglas A. Sims II said that the conditions on the battlefield in Ukraine were "not ideal" for the use of F-16 aircraft.

He said this to journalists during a briefing.

"The Russians still possess some air defence capability.  They have air capability," said Douglas Sims.

Therefore, the number of fighter jets that can be provided may be "not perfect" in the current circumstances.

During the briefing, Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder also said that Denmark and the Netherlands took the lead in training Ukrainian pilots for the F-16.  

"I don't have any new announcements to make today from the Pentagon in terms of the specific role that the US will play once the programme is codified and implemented other than to say that we support those efforts and appreciate the leadership that Denmark and the Netherlands are providing on that front," Ryder said.

It will be recalled that the pilots of the Ukrainian Air Force will start training on F-16 fighters in August 2023.

Photo: The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine