Sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine “depends on the White House,” Ben Wallace said.

The Defense Secretary said the UK would support other countries wishing to supply F-16s to Kiev. Photo: Getty/Sean Gallup

Finale Ben Wallace said on Wednesday that the decision to send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine rests with the United States after it was announced that the UK would lead an international effort to provide Kiev with combat aircraft.

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Ukrainian officials have placed a US-made aircraft at the top of their wish list in a bid to protect modern fighter jets from their Western allies.

President Joe Biden's reluctance to send planes to Ukraine creates a problem for other countries that also operate planes and want to do so, as the US controls their export license. -16. Its Air Force does not have this aircraft.

But after talking with his German counterpart in Berlin, Mr. Wallace said, “It's up to the White House to decide if they want to release this technology."

«What's really important here is to make it clear to Russia that we, as nations, have no fundamental philosophical objections to giving Ukraine the means it needs, depending on what happens on the battlefield.» he added.

The United States has so far refused to release the F-16 for Ukraine. Photo: AFP

Boris Pistorius, the German Defense Minister, took the same position as his colleague, saying at a press conference: «It depends on the White House … to decide whether F-16 fighters will be delivered.» ;

During a summit of European leaders in Iceland earlier this week, the UK said it was working with the Netherlands to build an international coalition to help Ukraine get the F-16.

France and Belgium also offered to help train Ukrainian pilots in modern fighter jets. .

So far, the United States has ruled out sending F-16s, arguing that the move would be impractical due to training requirements and the possibility of the planes being shot down by Russian air defense systems.

The security of the F-16 will be a significant upgrade for the Ukrainian Air Force, which primarily uses Soviet-era combat aircraft.

for additional assistance at the recent meeting of the Council of Europe. Photo: Getty Images Europe

Mr. Wallace said Britain did not have F-16s to offer to Ukraine, and stressed that it is not currently prepared to donate its Typhoon fleet.

"Then what we can obviously help, training and support, again, within the normal range, because we do not have F16 pilots," he added.

"We can do what we've been doing throughout this, which is we can empower other people who want to.

&#34 ;Any nation that comes to us and says that we want to bring tanks into Ukraine… we will help in this process.»

Germany will not play an «active role».

Germany has excluded itself from participation in the UK-led effort to help Kiev obtain fighter jets.

"We cannot play an active role in such an alliance, in such a coalition, because we have no training capacities, no competencies, no aircraft.” Pistorius said on Wednesday.

Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor, also said in Iceland that he sees no direct &#34 «demands&#34» for Berlin when it comes to fighter jets.

The UK was warned on Wednesday that a proposal to train Ukrainian pilots would harm its own training schemes at home.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, the new head of the Royal Air Force, suggested that the plan could affect the flow of British trainees, wanting to learn how to fly.

Delays have disrupted RAF pilot training as too many personnel have to wait for the next stages.

The government has sent pilots abroad, including to the US and France, to put an end to the backlog.