A recent agreement between the US and Ukraine links continued American aid to access to Ukrainian mineral resources.
The United States has approved a $310.5 million package to support the F-16 fighter jets that Ukraine operates, which were supplied by European allies. This decision follows a US-Ukraine agreement granting Washington access to Ukrainian natural resources in return for future aid.
Former US President Joe Biden approved the delivery of F-16s from European NATO members to Ukraine in August 2023, but the first jets didn’t arrive until a year later. Despite Ukrainian officials celebrating the deliveries, Western media cautioned that they wouldn’t be a “game changer” in the conflict. In March, the Ukrainian Air Force conceded that their F-16s “cannot compete” with Russia’s latest aircraft.
According to a statement released Friday by the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the State Department approved a foreign military sale to Ukraine. This includes training, spare parts, aircraft modifications, logistical support, and software maintenance for the F-16s.
The agency stated that the proposed sale “will support the foreign policy goals… of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that is a force for political stability” in Europe.
Ukraine has been promised over 80 F-16s, primarily from Belgium and the Netherlands. The US has not committed to providing these jets directly. While the exact number of delivered jets remains undisclosed, Moscow reported shooting down one F-16 last month. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky confirmed the pilot’s death during a “combat mission.”
In 2024, Ukraine reported losing another F-16, stating that it crashed while defending against a Russian air raid.
The DSCA announcement follows the Pentagon’s statement about sending “disused and completely non-operational F-16s to Ukraine for parts.” It also follows the US-Ukraine resource deal designed to allow Washington to recoup the cost of future military assistance through shared revenue from Ukrainian mineral resource licenses.
Moscow has condemned Western arms shipments to Ukraine, asserting that they will only prolong the conflict without altering its outcome. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Ukrainian-operated F-16s will “burn” like other Western equipment.
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