Ukraine needs F-16: Advancing Without Them is Like Going Forward With Bows and Arrows — Zaluzhny
Valeriy Zaluzhny, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, believes that fighting without airplanes is as senseless as going against weapons with bows and arrows. He points out that Western countries would never initiate an offensive without air superiority. However, Ukraine has not received modern fighters. This is discussed in an interview with Valeriy Zaluzhny published in The Washington Post.
According to him, successful progress on the frontlines in Ukraine requires having all types of weapons, a large quantity of ammunition, and undoubtedly, F-16 fighters to gain an advantage in the air.
"The number of aircraft rotating near our western borders is twice the number of Russian aircraft destroying our positions. Why can't we take at least a third of them and bring them here? Nobody says that tomorrow we need to rearm and acquire 120 aircraft. Why? I don't need 120 aircraft. A limited number is enough. But they are necessary because there is no other way. The enemy is using a different generation of aviation. It's like if we went into an offensive with bows and arrows now, and everyone said, 'Have you gone mad?'" says Valeriy Zaluzhny.
According to the publication, Zaluzhny's command post has a screen that displays everything in the air at any given moment, including NATO aircraft near Ukraine's western border, Ukrainian aircraft in the skies over Ukraine, and Russian aircraft on the eastern borders.
Fighters are needed, in particular, to cut off the land corridor between mainland Russia and temporarily occupied Crimea, which the occupiers have created in southern Ukraine. Severing this connection would deal a significant blow to Russia's ability to replenish its forces.
"We didn't receive 'Leopards' for politicians or celebrities to ride in parades or take photos with. They came here for war. And a 'Leopard' on the battlefield is a target," Zaluzhny emphasizes.
Therefore, according to him, Ukraine needs aviation and more ammunition. Zaluzhny discusses the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley.
"We have an agreement: 24/7, we're in touch. So sometimes I can make a call and say, 'If I don't get 100,000 rounds of ammunition per week, 1,000 people will die. Put yourself in my place," says the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
However, according to Zaluzhny, it is not Milley who decides whether Ukraine will receive the aircraft or not. And while this decision is being made, many people are dying every day. Therefore, aircraft are extremely necessary for a successful counteroffensive.
It should be noted that on May 21, 2023, U.S. President Joe Biden officially announced that American military personnel would start training Ukrainian pilots for F-16s. On May 26, Bloomberg reported that the Netherlands may send F-16s to Ukraine after training the pilots. The Ministry of Defense stated that Ukraine needs four squadrons (48 units) of multi-role F-16 fighters to defeat the Russian occupiers. Currently, the "F-16 Coalition" is being formed, consisting of countries that intend to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighters and/or train Ukrainian pilots to fly these aircraft. These countries include the United States, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Portugal, and Norway.