The Commander-in-chief of NATO forces in Europe, U.S. General Christopher Cavoli, is convinced that providing Ukraine with advanced Western military technology, including F-16 fighter jets, unmanned aerial vehicles, and long-range capabilities, will allow the nation to defeat Russia.
This is according to Politico, Ukrinform reports.
Read more: Ukraine’s Air Force Hope Get F-16 Aircraft Instead of to Create Something Like Iron Dome
On Friday, during a closed briefing with more than 10 U.S. lawmakers, Cavoli was asked whether the F-16 fighters would help Ukraine win the war against Russia. He responded: "Yes," according to five people in the room who spoke with Politico on the condition of anonymity.
Cavoli told the lawmakers at the Munich Security Conference that the U.S. and its allies should send the most advanced weapons they can part with to Ukraine. That included advanced aircraft, drones and missiles with ranges over 100 kilometers, such as the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS).
U.S. General said Ukraine needs longer-range missiles to allow its forces to strike Russian positions from farther away, putting headquarters and rear supply lines at risk, which would help disrupt the Russian war machine inside Ukraine.
Politico notes that this response from the American general goes further than the previous public comments of highest-ranking U.S. officials, who said that they did not rule out the transfer of fighter jets in the future, but emphasized the priority of providing Ukraine with air defense capabilities immediately.
Defense Express explained earlier Why the Transfer of ATACMS to Ukraine Does Not Pose Any Threat to NATO. We also wrote on What Modifications of ATACMS Missile the USA Has Now, and Which of Them Is the Most Formidable to the Likes of russian army.
Read more: How Long It May Take For Ukraine’s Pilots to Learn to Operate the F-16, And What Missiles Will Be Given to Them
