The U.S. is getting serious: F16 fighter jets are soon to be delivered to Kyiv. The news ticker on the Ukraine war.
- President returns: Volodymyr Zelensky promises "more weapons" for fight against Russia
- New weapons for Ukraine war: US names timeframe for fighter jet delivery to Ukraine
- All the news from the Ukraine war and decisions on further arms deliveries from the West in our news ticker.
Update from May 23, 4:15 a.m.: CDU defense expert Roderich Kiesewetter has spoken out in favor of supplying German Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. "Ukraine's partners must now go 'all-in' and supply Ukraine with everything that Ukraine can use in the combined arms battle and is permissible under international law," Kiesewetter told Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland. The Taurus guided missiles with a range of up to 500 kilometers could be a "very helpful contribution from Germany".
The CDU chairman in the Foreign Affairs Committee said the cruise missiles would bring massive added value to Ukraine in the war, which has now lasted 15 months, and would enable "strikes against the military infrastructure of the Russians far behind the front line". Ten years ago, around 600 Taurus were procured for the Bundeswehr. Of these, "around 150" are still operational today. It makes much more sense to use these weapons in Ukraine than to store them in Germany. The Russian war of aggression against the neighboring country has been going on since February 24 last year.
A Tornado aircraft of the German Air Force, equipped with TAURUS cruise missiles. (archive image) © Imago Images
U.S. pledges prompt delivery of F16 fighter jets
Update from May 22, 22:37 p.m.: The U.S. has promised Ukraine the timely delivery of F16 fighter jets. This was stated by Matthew Miller, spokesman for the US State Department, according to European Pravda. According to him, US President Joe Biden's clear priority is to train Ukrainian pilots and provide F-16 jets. This is to be implemented "in the coming months", according to Miller. They are currently coordinating with the allies on how to proceed.
Update from May 22, 22:00 p.m.: The Ukraine war has increased global demand for weapons. This is now leading to a rise in prices and higher defense spending for Joe Biden's administration in the US. Even the accusation of "price gouging" was loud, as the US news portal Newsweek reports. In particular, companies such as Lockheed Martin, which also produce the F16 fighter jet demanded by Ukraine, and the aircraft manufacturer Boeing would reap high profit margins in business with the state.
Zelensky back in Ukraine
First reported on 22 May: Kyiv - Volodymyr Zelensky has apparently returned to Ukraine after his trips abroad. From a train, the Ukrainian president reported to his compatriots after his visits to Saudi Arabia and Japan. "There will be even more weapons for our warriors," Zelensky said in a video reported by the dpa news agency. The head of state had visited the G7 summit over the weekend, where he received the USA's commitment in principle for the delivery of F16 fighter jets for the Ukraine war.
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Back in Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky expressed optimism that Kyiv's recent foreign policy initiatives will also be successful. "Each time there are more results for Ukraine: more anti-aircraft, artillery, tank technology, ammunition, training," the president said.
Ukraine war: Zelenskyy praises air defense against Russia's missiles
Zelensky expressly praised the efforts of his own troops in the ongoing war with Russia. Above all, air defense in the Ukraine war is working well. The previous night, 25 out of 25 Russian combat drones were shot down. "Every shot down is a life saved," said Zelensky, who had to admit that not all Russian air strikes could be prevented. However, their own armed forces are constantly working on improving their defences.
Zelensky did not provide precise information on the situation around the city of Bakhmut. Fighting continues in the region. Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin had announced at the weekend the capture of the city, which has been embattled for months, by his mercenary army. Ukraine, in turn, said the fighting for Bakhmut would continue.
Kyiv hopes for new weapons in the Ukraine war - but Portugal is playing it down
Whether Ukraine can hold out in the war against Russia or repel the aggressor depends above all on the support of Western states – and the supply of modern weapons. Since the beginning of the Ukraine war, Kyiv has been demanding the delivery of modern fighter jets from its allies. The U.S. basically gave the green light to the provision of F-16 fighter jets. But so far, no country has declared its willingness to actually send them. On the contrary, Portuguese Foreign Minister João Gomes Cravinho even ruled out that his country would supply F-16 fighter jets. At most, one would participate in the training of Ukrainian soldiers, Cravinho told the Portuguese news portal Diário de Notícias.
Volodymyr Zelensky, however, continues to hope for the NATO countries and already looked ahead to the upcoming summit of the defense alliance in Vilnius (Lithuania). There, too, they hope for favorable decisions and more weapons for Ukraine. (with agency material)