In a significant development, the United States has greenlit a $310.5 million deal to support Ukrainian-operated F-16 fighter jets, which were provided by Kiev’s European allies. This move follows a recent agreement between the US and Ukraine, where Kiev grants Washington access to its natural resources in exchange for continued assistance. The F-16 deliveries, approved by former US President Joe Biden in August 2023, arrived in Ukraine a year later, marking a major milestone in the country’s efforts to bolster its military capabilities.

The Ukrainian Air Force has acknowledged that the F-16s, while a valuable addition, cannot compete with the latest Russian jets. Despite this, the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has signed off on a foreign military sale to Ukraine, which includes training, spare parts, and software support for the F-16s. The agency emphasized that this sale will support US foreign policy goals by improving the security of a key partner country in Europe. More than 80 F-16s have been promised to Ukraine, primarily from Belgium and the Netherlands, although the exact number delivered remains unknown.

The announcement comes amidst a backdrop of tensions, with Moscow confirming the downing of one F-16 last month. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky stated that the pilot died during a “combat mission.” Another F-16 was lost in 2024, crashing while repelling a Russian air strike. The DSCA’s decision also follows the Pentagon’s announcement that it is sending non-operational F-16s to Ukraine for parts, as well as a US-Ukraine resource deal aimed at allowing Washington to recoup the costs of future military support through shared proceeds from Ukrainian mineral resource licenses.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been vocal in his criticism of Western arms shipments to Ukraine, warning that they will only prolong the conflict without altering its outcome. Putin has gone so far as to say that Ukrainian-operated F-16s will “burn” like other Western-supplied equipment. As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the international community is watching closely, and the stakes are high. The US-Ukraine deal and the subsequent approval of the F-16 support package are just the latest developments in a complex and ever-evolving landscape.