Biden: "China's Ceasefire Proposal Benefits Only Russia... Excludes 'F-16 Support'"

by Jo Youjin

Published 25 Feb.2023 10:33(KST)

Updated 25 Feb.2023 15:12(KST)

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U.S. President Joe Biden reiterated on the 24th (local time) that he is not considering providing F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, which is resisting Russia's invasion.

In an interview with ABC News on the same day, President Biden drew a line, saying that he is not currently considering supporting the F-16 fighter jets requested by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the United States.

He stated, "U.S. support for Ukraine will continue unwaveringly if necessary to defeat Russia," adding, "F-16s are not needed right now. I am ruling out the possibility (of providing them)."

Biden's remarks are analyzed as reflecting concerns that suggesting fighter jet support, following earlier support for main battle tanks, could provoke Russia and lead to an escalation, while emphasizing the U.S.'s unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine.

Additionally, he said that Chinese President Xi Jinping might have been unaware of the Chinese reconnaissance balloon that violated U.S. airspace and was shot down.

When asked whether he thinks China intentionally launched the reconnaissance balloon that flew over U.S. airspace earlier this month, President Biden replied, "That is almost irrelevant," and added, "There is a possibility they did not know."

Earlier, the U.S. Department of Defense detected a Chinese reconnaissance balloon that violated U.S. airspace on the 28th of last month and shot it down over the coastal airspace of South Carolina on the 4th of this month.

In the interview marking one year since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, President Biden evaluated that China's statement on the Ukraine war does not help anyone other than Russia.

Previously, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement titled "China's Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis," urging Ukraine and Russia to resume dialogue and seek a ceasefire.