“I am writing to express the United States’ full support for both the transfer of F-16 fighter aircraft to Ukraine and for the training of Ukrainian pilots by qualified F-16 instructors […] It remains critical that Ukraine is able to defend itself against ongoing Russian aggression and violation of its sovereignty” said Blinken.
Will this solidify a Ukrainian victory?
U.S. officials have privately said that F-16 jets would have been of little help to Ukraine in its current counteroffensive and will not be a game changer when they eventually arrive given Russian air defense systems and contested skies over Ukraine
Or will Russian radar and missle systems tear them up?
No. Any step towards a Russian victory guarantees nuclear proliferation.
Every country who is anywhere near achieving nuclear arms will be tooling up if Ukraine doesn’t win.
What do you think is more likely, Putin conceding defeat and stepping down or using nukes in a final hail mary?
Putin being forced out by someone in power who knows that the sooner they stop Russia bleeding out, the better.
Exactly. We have to bleed Russia out. Not crush them in a month. Hence the slow escalation.