The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has been ongoing for over 15 months, and the West is now facing a new rift over whether to send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. The Biden administration is reluctant to send the jets due to their high cost, but Britain and the Netherlands are leading a European push to provide them. The Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, and Norway have all signaled they are ready to send F-16s to Kyiv, and the UK has announced plans to begin training Ukrainian pilots this summer. The US is concerned that the jets would not reach the battlefield in time, and is instead focused on speeding other American weapons to Ukraine. However, the US has previously reversed itself and allowed the transfer of powerful weapons, and the Biden administration has not ruled out the possibility of issuing re-export licenses to European militaries. 14 Democrats and Republicans in Congress have urged President Biden to unlock the F-16s without delay, as they believe it is essential to effectively end the war on just terms.
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