Ukraine declares F-16s in combat, requests urgent NATO meeting, wants to present combat plan to US leaders

On August 27, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that recently, the country's military deployed F-16 fighter jets provided by the West to shoot down Russian drones and missiles.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (2nd from right) walks near an F-16 in the Netherlands in 2023. (Source: Reuters)

AFP news agency reported that, speaking at a press conference in the capital Kiev, Mr. Zelensky stated: "We destroyed a number of missiles and drones with F-16s," but did not explain further, noting that Kiev still needs more fighter jets.

Earlier this month, Mr. Zelensky announced that Ukraine had received the first batch of F-16s promised by Western countries, but declined to say how many. The Eastern European country has been asking its Western partners for the aircraft for more than two years.

On the same day, August 27, Sputnik news agency quoted Mr. Zelensky expressing his desire to present to US President Joe Biden as well as former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris Kiev's new strategy on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Speaking at a press conference, the Ukrainian leader shared: "I will not go into details but the plan has been outlined, I think it would be reasonable if this plan was sent to the US President first. The success of the plan depends on him."

Mr. Zelensky said he would present the plan to President Biden at a meeting in September and expressed his wish that the plan would also be sent to the two presidential candidates of the two parties, hinting that the plan was aimed at "winning for Ukraine".

In another related development, also on August 27, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) announced that Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will convene a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council on August 28 at Kiev's request.

NATO spokeswoman Farah Dakhlallah confirmed: “The meeting will be held at ambassadorial level. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov is expected to brief allies via video link on the situation on the battlefield and priority needs.”

The meeting comes after recent major Russian attacks. According to Ms. Dakhlallah, NATO allies have provided significant support to Ukraine’s air defense forces and pledged to help further strengthen the country’s defense capabilities.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/ukraine-tuyen-bo-f-16-xung-tran-yeu-cau-nato-hop-khan-cap-muon-trinh-bay-ke-hoach-tac-chien-voi-lanh-dao-my-284120.html