Ukraine to be unable to use NATO airstrips for deployment of F-16 planes Kyiv to receive 1 million drones

Western states will not allow Ukraine to use their airstrips to deploy F-16 planes after they are handed over to Kyiv, because of their obligations within NATO, Ukrainian Air Forces Spokesman Yurii Ihnat said.

"Every country and government is concerned over their own security; and that would hardly be possible especially within the collective security, when a country is a part of NATO. Certain clauses are unlikely to make it possible to do that," he said on Ukrainian TV, answering a question if F-16 planes will be able to stay on NATO airstrips after they are handed over to Ukraine, TASS reports.

Previously, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that planes, provided to Ukraine, will become a legitimate target for Russian forces, regardless of where they take off from.

Meanwhile, allies are planning to join forces and supply Ukraine with a million drones this year, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said at a press conference in Brussels on Feb. 15 following a NATO-Ukraine Council meeting, according to a Kyiv Independent reporter.

Ukrainian officials have repeatedly emphasized the importance of unmanned systems in the war in Russia. In addition to foreign supplies, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine aims to also produce 1 million drones domestically in 2024.

"Today, we also met with Ukraine in the NATO-Ukraine Council. Defense Minister (Rustem) Umerov briefed allies on the latest developments on the ground, and we addressed the importance of our continued support," Stoltenberg said.

"A group of allies is coming together with the goal of delivering 1 million drones to Ukraine."

The secretary-general stressed that NATO allies account for 99% of all military aid to Ukraine.

"Our commitment is essential to preserving Ukraine's freedom," he said.

U.K. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps announced on Feb. 15 that London is joining Latvia in leading the "drone coalition" that coordinates supplies for Ukraine. Shapps also pledged thousands more drones to Kyiv, namely first-person view unmanned aerial vehicles.

"I'm proud to announce that the U.K. and Latvia will co-lead an international coalition to build Ukraine's vital drone capabilities," Shapps said.

"Together, we will give Ukraine the capabilities it needs to defend itself and win this war, to ensure that Putin fails in his illegal and barbaric ambitions."

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree in February to create a new branch of Ukraine's Armed Forces specifically dedicated to drones.

The Unmanned Systems Forces will reportedly focus specifically on improving Ukraine's work with drones, creating special drone-specific units, ramping up training, systemizing their use, increasing production, and pushing innovation.

Zelenskyy said in January that one of the main goals for 2024 was outpacing Russia in the production of drones.