Zelenskyy: Ukraine needs more fighter jets to secure its skies

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine requires additional fighter jets to ensure the safety of its airspace.

Speaking at a press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Kyiv on 22 August, Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine’s security guarantees depend on the capabilities of its partners and the needs of its armed forces, Caliber.Az reports via Ukrainian media. 

"I’ll explain how complicated it is with one example – when we talk about aircraft, F-16s. We are very grateful to all our partners for the coordination and for the fact that we have this kind of air fleet or at least the beginning of one. We do not have all the aircraft we need. These aircraft are not enough to guarantee our security in the sky," he said, as cited by Radio Liberty.

Zelenskyy did not specify the number of additional jets required. He noted, however, that while Ukraine’s partners agree on the necessity of building up the air fleet, the process involves political will, production capacity, and funding.

"That is why, when we talk about security guarantees – everything is complicated because of such details. Clearly, all of them are being discussed, all of them matter," the president added.

Ukraine has long sought modern F-16s from its Western allies. In 2023, several countries, with US approval, agreed to supply Kyiv with the aircraft. That August, Zelenskyy said Ukraine had secured agreements for around 50 fighter jets but stressed that about 160 were required.

The first F-16s were delivered to Ukraine in early August 2024.

By Sabina Mammadli