The Biden administration has told European allies that Washington will not interfere with theirs export F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, a person familiar with the decision told The Washington Post. President Biden has previously said that he is against the United States sending F-16s to Ukraine.
President Biden is in Japan to attend the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima, where Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is one of the main items on the agenda. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to attend the meeting in person, according to people familiar with the plans. It was previously reported that Zelensky would almost certainly attend.
Here is the latest information about the war and its effects around the world.
Europe’s military industrial capabilities are inferior to Ukraine’s needs: As Zelensky toured Western capitals this week, the billions of dollars in new military aid was a sign that European governments were finally digging deep to sustain a long war. Zelensky had made it clear before his visits to Berlin, Paris and London that the expected offensive against Ukraine could not begin until more weapons and ammunition were secured, Catherine Belton and Emily Rauhala reports.
But while Britain’s delivery of the long-range Storm Shadow missiles could significantly boost Ukraine’s offensive capabilities, it is unlikely that much of the weaponry promised by European leaders this week will reach range the battle until long after the start of the counterattack, military experts say, and Europe. the ability to maintain such support in the future is still unclear.
