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President Biden received Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen at the White House on Monday to discuss security initiatives, including providing military support to Ukraine, amid reports that Kiev could step up its long-planned counteroffensive against Russian forces.
One of the main topics of discussion between Mr Biden and Ms Frederiksen was Ukraine’s demand for US-made F-16 fighter jets, according to the White House. In late May, and after months of resisting mounting pressure to deploy the planes for fear they could be used to attack Russian territory, Mr. Biden agreed to the permit for training pilots to operate the aircraft and for providing allied countries.
Denmark is one of several countries whose leaders have signaled they would be willing to either transfer F-16s from their own inventories or offer pilot training. Belgium, the Netherlands and Norway have done so also stated that they would be willing to help.
On Thursday, Mr Biden will receive British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, another key NATO ally who has been vocal about the need to arm Kiev. In February, Mr Sunak said that “nothing was off the table” when it came to considering military aid to Ukraine.
Why It Matters: Fighting has increased as Ukraine heads toward the Russian front.
Over the past 16 months, Mr. Biden has helped America’s key Western allies agree on the need for assistance to Kiev. despite waning domestic support for the war and amid conflicting opinions among other leaders about how best to arm Ukraine.
Now, with Ukrainian soldiers stepping up artillery and ground attacks against Russia’s front, the West is once again at a crucial juncture where allies must advance in lockstep.
John F. Kirby, a White House spokesman, told reporters Monday he couldn’t say whether Ukraine’s counteroffensive has officially begun, but added that the Biden administration was doing everything it could to help Kiev prepare.
“The President is confident that we have done everything we can over the last six, eight months or more to ensure they have all the equipment, training and skills,” Kirby said.
As of Monday, the F-16 delivery schedule was still unclear. Mr. Biden has called it “highly unlikely” that the F-16s would be part of the counteroffensive Ukraine has been planning for the past few months.
