White House defends decision not to send fighter jets to Ukraine

White House National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby defended the Biden administration's decision not to send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, pointing to U.S. assistance, including Abrams tanks.

This was reported by CNN.

"What I can tell you is that there are many capabilities that are already being sent, and will be sent in the coming weeks and months. We know that those capabilities will be critical to help the Ukrainians again in the fighting over the winter, as well as the fighting that we expect them to do in the spring," Kirby said.

Kirby said he believes the decision to send Abrams tanks to the region announced last week was not overdue, even amid reports that Russia is occupying territory in eastern Ukraine.

"The decision about the tanks - and it wasn't just a U.S. decision, but also the Germans and before that the Brits - was really designed to help Ukraine get ahead of the fighting that we think everybody will see in the spring," he said.

"So this was one of those cases where we're trying to predict the needs that Ukraine will need when the weather improves - and we can expect the Russians to try to go on the offensive then," Kirby added.

Author - Olena Madiak, 31/01/2023