Blinken: Ukraine has recaptured half of the territory Russia occupied, I believe they will get F-16 jets

(Patria) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that although Ukraine has recaptured half of the territory Russia initially occupied in its invasion, Kyiv has faced a "very difficult fight" to reclaim more, Reuters reported.

"About 50 percent of what was initially seized has already been returned," Blinken said in
an interview with CNN on Sunday.

"These are still relatively early days of the counteroffensive. It's difficult," he said, adding, "It's not going to end in the next week or two."

Late last month, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the progress of the counteroffensive against Russian forces was "slower than desired." Ukraine has retaken some villages in the south and territory around the devastated city of Bakhmut in the east, but has not had a major breakthrough through entrenched Russian lines.

When asked if Ukraine would receive US-made F-16 fighter jets, Blinken said he believes they will.

"A significant focus is on ensuring that when they do, they are properly trained, they are able to maintain the aircraft, and they use them in a smart way."

A coalition of 11 nations will begin training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets in August in Denmark, and a training center will be established in Romania.

Ukraine has long sought Lockheed Martin-produced F-16 jets, but US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said last month that there was no final decision on Washington sending them. US officials estimate that training and delivery of the aircraft will take at least 18 months.

The United States has provided Ukraine with more than $41 billion in military aid since Russia's invasion in February 2022.