Biden says the US will not supply the F-16s to Ukraine

President Joe Biden said on Monday that the United States will not provide F-16 fighter jets to UkraineHe appears to be refusing a major request from the country to fend off Russian aggression.

Kyiv has made it clear that it would like to acquire fighter jets such as the F-16s, a renewed hope from before The United States announced last week Agree to transfer M1 Abrams fighter tank. Yuri Sak, Advisor to the Minister of Defense of Ukraine. to CNBC last weekWe will get F-16s.

But Mr. Biden threw cold water on that idea on Monday. Asked on the South Lawn of the White House if the United States would supply Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets, he said, “No.”

US officials have previously seemed open to this possibility.

Last week, the White House’s deputy national security adviser, John Fenner, told MSNBC that the United States would discuss the idea of ​​supplying fighter jets to Ukraine “very cautiously” with Ukraine and its allies. John Kirby, strategic communications coordinator at the National Security Council, told reporters last week that it was “not surprising” that Ukraine had requested the fighter jets, and the United States is in “ongoing discussions and conversations” with the Ukrainians about their needs in terms of capabilities.

But the United States has reversed course on Ukraine’s other capabilities, such as Abrams tanks and the Patriot missile defense system, ultimately saving them.

Last week, President announce The United States will send 31 first-class M1 Abrams battle tanks to Ukraine, based on a major order. This is after Germany said it would provide 14 of its Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and allow the Allies to re-export their tanks.

The president said the move “is based on the hard work and commitment of countries around the world, led by the United States of America, to help Ukraine defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Mr. Biden also said on Monday that he would travel to Poland soon, but said he did not know when the trip would be.

Catherine Watson

Kathryn Watson is a political correspondent for CBS News Digital based in Washington, DC