UK, Netherlands Agree on 'International Coalition' for Ukraine Fighter Jets

Facts

• The leaders of Britain and the Netherlands, Rishi Sunak and Mark Rutte, have agreed to build an "international coalition" to help Ukraine acquire F-16 fighter jets, the British government announced late on Tuesday.¹
• A spokesperson for Sunak's office said the leaders "would work to build an international coalition to provide Ukraine with combat air capabilities, supporting with everything from training to procuring F-16 jets."¹
• The announcement came after Sunak and Rutte met at a Council of Europe summit in Iceland on Tuesday.²
• It also came after Ukrainian Pres. Zelenskyy traveled to Britain and met with Sunak on Monday. Reacting to the announcement, Zelenskyy said it was "a good start to the coalition...Thank you all."³
• However, the UK does not operate the US-made F-16 fighter jet, produced in South Carolina by the defense contractor Lockheed Martin. The UK and Holland will have to persuade the US to agree on any transfers of the plane to Ukraine — something the US has been reluctant to approve out of fear of an escalation with Moscow.¹
• Asked on Monday whether the US had changed its position on supplying fighter jets to Ukraine, the White House's National Security Council spokesman John Kirby responded with one word: "No."¹

Sources: ¹Guardian, ²GOV.UK, and ³Barrons.

Narratives

• Anti-Russia narrative, as provided by ECFR. Russia is inflicting vast air superiority in the war in Ukraine. If Ukraine is to reclaim its territory and establish an effective missile defense strategy, it must be supplied with modern fighter jets to rival those of Russia.
• Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by TASS. The more that Western countries provide Ukraine with weapons, the more that Russia considers them as direct participants in this conflict. The West's actions are not only dragging out this conflict but also leading to a serious risk of escalation.

Predictions