Ukraine’s Minister Emphasizes Priority of Gaining Control of the Skies by 2024

– Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated Ukraine’s priority for 2024 is to gain control over its skies as Russia’s full-scale assault enters its third year.
– Kuleba said, “the one who controls the skies will define when and how the war will end.”
– Kyiv has long called on the West to deliver advanced fighter jets to support its troops entrenched in the south and east of the country.
– Ukraine’s long-awaited counter-offensive failed to punch through Russian defenses last year, leading to a stalemate in the conflict.
– Kuleba insisted that with the right support, Ukraine could be victorious, calling for patience among Ukraine’s key Western backers.
– President Volodymyr Zelensky stated Ukraine “must gain air superiority” to enable “progress on the ground.”
– Various NATO countries are currently training Ukrainian pilots on American-made F-16 fighter jets.
– Denmark said it will transfer 19 F-16s to Ukraine in the second quarter of this year, while Washington previously resisted allowing the jet transfers for fear of being deemed a direct belligerent in the Ukraine war by Moscow.