According to US President Joe Biden, Zelenskyi has promised that the fighter jets will only be used to defend Ukraine – not to attack Russia.
President of Ukraine to Volodymyr Zelensky According to
– Russia is not currently occupying Bahmut, Zelenskyi commented at a press conference held in Hiroshima, Japan.
Earlier on Sunday, Zelenskyi had commented on Bahmut’s situation with turns of phrase that made it clear that the city was now under Russian control.
Director of mercenary company Wagner Yevgeny Prigozhin had already said on Saturday that his forces had taken over the entire city.
Today, at the press conference held in connection with the G7 summit, the President of Ukraine refrained from giving more detailed information about the situation in the city.
– I know exactly what is happening in Bahmut. However, I cannot share technical details about what will happen to our fighters, Zelenskyi commented.
Thanked the United States for the support
Zelenskyi appeared at the press conference of the US President Joe Biden alongside.
Biden said that the United States will give Ukraine an additional aid worth 375 million dollars, which includes, among other things, supplies, cannons and vehicles.
The announcement of the latest aid package came shortly after the United States authorized its allies to deliver American-made F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.
The United States has previously been reluctant to provide Ukraine with modern fighter jets. One of the reasons for the reluctance has been the concern about the expansion of the conflict beyond Ukraine’s borders.
According to Biden, Zelenskyi has promised that fighter jets will not strike Russian soil.
The US president said in his own press conference that F-16s can be used “when Russian forces are in the territory of Ukraine”.
However, Biden emphasized that he considers it “very unlikely” that fighter jets will be made available to Ukraine in possible attacks in the coming weeks.
Sources: AP, Reuters