It seems increasingly likely that US President Joe Biden will green light the supply of F-16s to Ukraine, according to foreign affairs commentator Bernard Hammelburg. To give it an extra boost, Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky is on his way to the G7 summit in Hiroshima.
In recent days there has often been talk of a coalition of countries, possibly including the Netherlands, which would like to deliver F-16 fighter jets to Kiev. But the big question remained what the United States would do. “The New York Times previously wrote that Biden doesn’t feel like it yet,” Hammelburg says, “but CNN now says he would.” According to the foreign commentator, he indicates that the tide may be turning.
‘There are more than a hundred F-16s in Europe that countries are willing to supply to Ukraine. If they are authorized by the United States.’
Zelensky does it all
According to him, this is also why Zelensky is still going to the G7 summit in Japan. “It’s one of the biggest things he still wants to achieve,” says Hammelburg. ‘There are more than a hundred F-16s in Europe that countries are willing to supply to Ukraine. If they are authorized to do so by the United States, which manufactured the devices.’
According to Hammelburg, there are still some hurdles, such as preparing the aircraft for use and retraining Ukrainian pilots. “But we’re still further along than we ever thought possible,” he says. “It seems that Zelensky is doing everything.”
The diamond ban is a joke
What the G7 leaders in Hiroshima are also talking about are new sanctions on Russia. “We shouldn’t be cynical about this,” Hammelburg says. “Those sanctions really help. Even if it’s just to disrupt some industries.’
He calls the UK ban on Russian diamond exports a “washing of the nose”. ‘The UK buys almost no diamonds. The biggest buyer in the EU is Belgium, but European countries do not participate.’ Ahead of the summit in Japan, the EU said it was ready to increase sanctions on diamond exports.
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Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
