Ukraine: The Latest – Biden climbs down on sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine

Today on Ukraine: The Latest, the panel discusses the latest news from the frontlines as the battle for Bakhmut continues. Plus, we analyse news from the G7 in Japan and respond to listeners questions on Russia and Ukraine in World War Two.

Assistant Comment Editor Francis Dearnley leads with the story that F-16 fighter are now likely to be sent to Ukraine:

This is a significant development in the fighter jets debate. Despite President Biden’s previous reluctance to send war planes to Ukraine, we are hearing that Washington has assured its European allies that they will not impede the export of F-16 fighter jets to Kyiv. 

For many, these jets are the final piece of the jigsaw that will enable Ukraine to decisively defeat Russia on the battlefield. And if Russia does attempt to freeze this war for now and launch an invasion in future years, then Ukraine would have access to F-16 fighters – Russia would be facing a very different enemy, one that would make a conventional invasion like the one last year almost impossible.

In other developments, G7 leaders met in Hiroshima today. Francis quotes a noteworthy statement from the leaders:

‘We, the leaders of the G-7 reaffirmed our commitment to stand together against Russia’s illegal, unjustifiable and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine. We condemn, in the strongest terms, Russia’s manifest violation of the charter of the U.N. and the impact of Russia’s war on the rest of the world.’

Such a statement is clearly designed to counter the suggestion that the longer this war goes on, the more it favours Putin. It’s an attempt to show the world that the West is committed for as long as it takes. Whether that will remain true indefinitely, however, still remains to be seen, especially in the United States.

War in Ukraine is reshaping our world. Every weekday the Telegraph’s top journalists analyse the invasion from all angles – military, humanitarian, political, economic, historical – and tell you what you need to know to stay updated.

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