NATO countries and Ukraine's other allies are yet to say whether they will supply Ukraine with F-16s or similar Western fighter jets. Ukraine is pushing for it and allies discussed it Tuesday, but "I have no aircraft announcements to make," US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said.

NATO member states such as Poland and Lithuania are strongly in favor of supplying such fighters, especially as Ukraine braces for the feared new Russian spring offensive. Even though the US, as a carrier of NATO and as a production country of the F-16, was decisive, and Germany was also against it earlier.

Ukraine will need Western warplanes sooner or later, "but Ukraine now primarily needs ammunition and anti-aircraft guns", said NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, among others.

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* Origin: AVIATION ECHO HQ (2:292/854)