Ukraine is once again asking the United States for F-16 jets. The Ukrainian premier, Denis Shmigal, met in Arlington, near Washington, with the US defense secretary, Lloyd Austin, from whom he personally asked for the supply of fighters for the Ukrainian forces. Shmigal thanked Austin for the “powerful support” that the United States has given Ukraine to repel Russian attacks.
“The United States is our largest partner in terms of military support,” the Ukrainian premier underlined. “We will win this war, but to reach the goal faster and with fewer losses, however, Ukraine needs more military support.” Shmigal then insisted on sending jets, asking Washington to once again play “a leadership role” by sending “F-15 or F-16 fighters”.
BELARUS – Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Aleinik today stressed the need for Russia and Ukraine to reach an agreement to “stop the killing of people” and “declare a truce” in the conflict. Speaking in Hungary, where he met with the country’s authorities, Aleinik said both Minsk and Budapest support dialogue as a peace solution to the war in Ukraine.
Minsk will make every effort in its power to de-escalate tensions, he added. “We consider the causes of conflicts complex. We are convinced that this situation was caused and fueled by the efforts of the United States and its satellite countries. They derive profits, dividends and benefits, and everyone else bears the costs,” said Aleinik .
Belarus – he added – is going through one of the most “alarming” moments in terms of national security. Minsk “has never created problems for its neighbors and strives to have good neighborly relations: we will not attack anyone”.
BALTIC TENSION – A Su-27 fighter of the Russian Air Force today intercepted a German patrol plane, an R-3C Orion, over the waters of the Baltic Sea in the direction of its border, and escorted it in the opposite direction. This was reported by the Russian Defense Control Center. “Russian means of airspace control over the Baltic Sea detected an air target that was approaching the state border of the Russian Federation,” the Control Center said, according to the TASS news agency.
In order to identify the aircraft and “avoid a violation of the state border”, the Russian Armed Forces sent a Su-27 fighter, which verified that the detected aircraft was a German maritime patrol vessel. “After the foreign military aircraft left the state border of the Russian Federation, the Russian fighter returned to its departure airfield unharmed.”
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