Biden has not yet decided whether F-16s will be supplied to Ukraine by US directly or by partners - Sullivan

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan shared the information, Politico reports.

"I think given the numbers [of F-16s] that are currently available from the stocks of our European allies, and the fact that based on the money Congress has given us, there are so many other priorities for systems to give, it may be that we focus more on third party transfer, but the president has not made a final decision," Sullivan said on CNN's “State of the Union” on Sunday, answering the question of whether the US would send the aircraft directly to Ukraine.

According to Sullivan, the fighter jets are not "critical" to the expected counteroffensive of the Ukrainian military, but the situation is changing.

"The United States has mobilized an exceptional effort to deliver on time and in full everything Ukraine needs to launch this counteroffensive," the adviser said.

He added that the US can now look forward to Ukraine's long-term ability to defend itself and deter Russian aggression. And fourth-generation fighter jets, Western fighter jets, F-16s are relevant to this fight.

• US President Joe Biden has approved Ukrainian training on F-16s. Volodymyr Zelenskyy assured that Ukraine will not use these aircraft to strike at the territory of Russia.

• Ukraine hopes to receive the first modern American F-16 fighter jets in the fall of 2023.