Biden's statement on refusal to provide F-16s and IOC's response to Ukraine's criticism: last night's highlights
Biden says the US will not provide Ukraine with F—16 fighter jets, and the IOC calls Ukraine's criticism of Russian athletes' access to competitions dafamatory. Here is what you may have missed from the previous night.
Biden's statement on refusal to provide F-16s
U.S. President Joe Biden has said that the United States will not supply Ukraine with its F-16 combat aircraft requested by Kyiv.
“No,” Biden said when asked by journalists whether he supports the delivery of the planes, which, according to Ukrainian officials, are now a priority.
John Kirby, the White House National Security Council's coordinator for strategic communications, defended the decision of the US President Joe Biden's administration not to send F-16 fighters to Ukraine, emphasizing instead the assistance that the United States is already providing.
IOC's response to Ukraine's criticism
The International Olympic Committee has rejected criticism from Ukraine over the organization's intention to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
“The IOC rejects in the strongest possible terms this and other defamatory statements. They cannot serve as a basis for any constructive discussion,” the committee said.
The first batch of Bradley infantry fighting vehicles has been shipped
The U.S. Army Transportation Command has reported that the United States has already shipped the first batch of Bradley infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine. It is noted that the cargo, which contains more than 60 Bradleys, sailed from the shores of North Charleston, South Carolina, last week.
Briefly about other news:
- French President Emmanuel Macron said that he does not rule out the transfer of combat aircraft to Kyiv. Paris may also start training Ukrainian fighter pilots;
- Norwegian Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram said that his country would send Ukraine German-made Leopard tanks “as soon as possible”, possibly at the end of March;
- the Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, announced his intention to reform the processes of the Military Medical Commission through digitalization;
- Ukraine's existing air defense capabilities will not be able to cope with Iranian Fateh and Zolfaghar ballistic missiles if Tehran transfers them to Russia. But Western partners are increasingly inclined to provide Kyiv with more powerful air defense systems, the Air Force said.
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