Joe Biden refused to send F-16 fighter jet

US President Joe Biden has ruled out sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, despite renewed calls from Ukrainian officials for air support.

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Asked by a reporter on Monday whether the US would provide the plane, Mr Biden simply replied no.

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His comments come a day after Germany's leader ruled out sending fighter jets.

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Ukraine has said it needs the jets to control its airspace in its ongoing war with Russia.

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[{"selector":"#anim-c7315d0a-6d05-49fa-88fa-976b941920cb [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(17.760609670317805%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-df69d46b-8e56-4213-9ba9-683b00d8b451","keyframes":[{"offset":0,"transform":"translate3d(0, -219.35287%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.29,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.45,"transform":"translate3d(0, -61.682027044%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.61,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.71,"transform":"translate3d(0, -20.970134372%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.8,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.85,"transform":"translate3d(0, -7.8747680330000005%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.92,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.96,"transform":"translate3d(0, -3.421904772%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":1,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"}],"delay":0,"duration":600,"fill":"both"}] The F-16 Fighting Falcons are widely regarded as one of the most reliable fighter jets in the world and are used by countries such as Belgium and Pakistan, among others. credit-google

[{"selector":"#anim-729dfa89-7c82-4a06-a5b4-1ac44f594aa5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f1ae01ec-3d32-471c-8a96-146b6eeda94e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] They would be a significant upgrade over the Soviet-era fighter jets that Ukraine is currently using, which were built before the country declared independence from the USSR more than 30 years ago. credit-google

[{"selector":"#anim-9390f0fc-ed54-4558-bdee-e7b51b72829d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(21.874999829338595%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f425a900-195a-4240-a373-510ae0068809","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1468ceab-c04b-468e-9243-a756d5e4b067","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(119.59183%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] However, Mr Biden has repeatedly rejected Ukraine's pleas for the jets, instead focusing on providing military aid to other areas. credit-google

[{"selector":"#anim-8afc60b6-b1b9-4c3f-b257-d640ed0b30cb [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.19067373219462%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ada0af17-3869-4698-8e4c-7694a99c0e2b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b08ef5a8-0712-4c12-b4ec-f27d6b6f4887","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -483.67158%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The US announced last week that it would supply 31 Abrams tanks to Kyiv, with Britain and Germany pledging similar support. credit-google

[{"selector":"#anim-608d8e29-55d4-4508-bd98-c1ac783a38d9 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3f4a81be-63d0-4867-83b1-f189f8517f48","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c5eda904-9475-4c9e-a923-28e894c348fe","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Ukraine's deputy foreign minister, Andrey Melnyk, welcomed that announcement but called on allies to form a "fighter jet alliance" that would also provide Ukraine with Eurofighters, Tornados, French Rafales and Swedish Gripen jets. credit-google

[{"selector":"#anim-b9561be7-89bd-4d7d-8a18-db0be1c797ce [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(31.287499886453276%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f16d7a19-f386-4af6-af0b-436e3ae852e5","keyframes":[{"offset":0,"transform":"translate3d(0, -436.39548%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.29,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.45,"transform":"translate3d(0, -122.714408976%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.61,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.71,"transform":"translate3d(0, -41.719407888000006%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.8,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.85,"transform":"translate3d(0, -15.666597732000001%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":0.92,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"},{"offset":0.96,"transform":"translate3d(0, -6.807769488%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(.5, 0, 1, 1)"},{"offset":1,"transform":"translate3d(0, 0%, 0)","easing":"cubic-bezier(0, 0, .5, 1)"}],"delay":0,"duration":600,"fill":"both"}] Other EU countries, including the Netherlands, have not yet given a definite response on whether they will send fighter jets. credit-google

[{"selector":"#anim-373e47fb-7e2b-41a4-b087-87f788c99b07 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-17.399456557474146%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c7982767-2895-40d1-9ccf-b7e7167cd21f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-672687ff-b57e-4700-ac4c-b19c6924a006","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(119.27712%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Poland has indicated that it would be ready to supply the fighter jets in coordination with NATO. credit-google