Spain cannot supply Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets: Official
Spain cannot provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets because it did not have that aircraft, Spanish defence minister Margarita Robles said on Tuesday.
“We are supporting Ukraine, and we will continue to support Ukraine because we think we have to be and remain united, but Spain does not have F-16s at the moment,” she said.
Ms Robles said this before a meeting of EU defence ministers in Brussels.
The minister added that although Spain had trained over a thousand Ukrainian soldiers and several medics, Madrid had no resources to train Ukrainian pilots in using F-16 fighter jets.
Earlier in the day, EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said the F-16 training programme had already begun in some European countries.
NATO allies recently pledged to supply Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets, the latest addition to the list of lethal weapons the collective West has provided to Ukraine as it gears up for a counter-offensive against Russian forces.
Russian ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, said the possible transfer of F-16s to Ukraine raised the question of NATO’s involvement in the conflict.
(Sputnik/NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Health
Only 22 million out of 240 million Nigerians on health insurance, says NHIA
The National Health Insurance Authority says the number of Nigerians enrolled in health insurance has risen to more than 22 million.
States
Delta: NDLEA says 36 hectares of cannabis farm destroyed
NDLEA says it destroyed 36.2 hectares of suspected cannabis plantation and seized N450 million worth of illicit drugs in Delta over the last year.
World
Trump says ceasefire with Iran over as U.S. launches fresh strikes
IRGC disclosed on Wednesday that it targeted U.S. military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait and that it had shot down a U.S. MQ-9 drone.
Economy
Tinubu urges Afreximbank to mobilise resources for Africa’s industrialisation
Mr Tinubu urged the leadership of the African Export-Import Bank to leverage Africa’s human, financial and natural resources to promote economic progress for all Africans.
States
Bayelsa: Father, son arrested for illegally possessing guns
The Bayelsa police command says it has arrested a 68-year-old man and his 36-year-old son for illegally possessing four single-barrelled firearms.
Africa
Tunisia proposes ban on single-use plastic bags
Members of the Assembly of People’s Representatives in Tunisia have put forward a legislative initiative aimed at a nationwide ban on single-use plastic bags.
