DC 7.21pm (Aug 17) / København, Oslo, and Den Haag 1.21am (Aug 18)
U.S. Secretary of State Antony John Blinken has sent letters to Denmark and Norway (not Netherland, as reporting Thomson Reuters) assuring that the Biden government would expedite approvals for all transfers of F-16s to Ukraine. This is very surprising, because until 14 hours ago, Ukraine will not receive The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets from its allies this year as hoped, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force said late Wednesday, confirming that the advanced planes won’t play a role in the current counteroffensive. In the letters Blinken said that the F-16s would transfered once Ukrainian pilots have completed the Danish and Norwegian lead training program:
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.
The letters from Secretary Blinken mark the first time the Biden regime has given a hard commitment to supplying the Ukrainian military with F-16s. This past May, President Joe Biden endorsed the Danish and Norwegian training program but stopped short of setting a timetable for transfers of the advanced American fighter jet. June 4th, 2023, Biden met with Prime Minister Frederiksen of Denmark in the White House.
Recent reports have indicated that the Ukrainian military is becoming overly reliant on captured and retrofitted Russian vehicles and that the stalled counter-offensive has lead to low moral among Ukrainian soldiers. During a panel debate in Arendal, Norway this past week, NATO Chief of Staff Stian Jenssen suggested that Ukraine may have to surrender some of its territory to Russia in order to obtain a peace settlement: “I’m not saying it has to be like this. But that could be a possible solution.”
Op-ed by Henry Alfred Kissinger (/ˈkɪsɪndʒər/KISS-in-jər;born Heinz Alfred Kissinger), 56th United States Secretary of State (Sept 22, 1973 - Jan 20, 1977). Anthony John Blinken is 71st United States Secretary of State
In Kyiv, Ukraine is due to hold elections by Oct. 29, but political activity is suspended under martial law and a vote seems impossible given Russia’s occupation of a fifth of the country.
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft. Over 4,600 aircraft have been built since production was approved in 1976.Although no longer being purchased by the U.S. Air Force, improved versions are being built for export customers. In 1993, General Dynamics sold its aircraft manufacturing business to the Lockheed Corporation,which in turn became part of Lockheed Martin after a 1995 merger with Martin Marietta.
=========END————
Thank you, as always, for reading. If you have anything like a spark file, or master thought list (spark file sounds so much cooler), let me know how you use it in the comments below.
-prada- Adi Mulia Pradana is a Helper. Former adviser (President Indonesia) Jokowi for mapping 2-times election. I used to get paid to catch all these blunders—now I do it for free. Trying to work out what's going on, what happens next. Arch enemies of the tobacco industry, (still) survive after getting doxed.
Now figure out, or, prevent catastrophic situations in the Indonesian administration from outside the government. After his mom was nearly killed by a syndicate, now I do it (catch all these blunders, especially blunders by an asshole syndicates) for free. Writer actually facing 12 years attack-simultaneously (physically terror, cyberattack terror) by his (ex) friend in IR UGM / HI UGM (all of them actually indebted to me, at least get a very cheap book). 2 times, my mom nearly got assassinated by my friend with “komplotan” / weird syndicate. Once assassin, forever is assassin, that I was facing in years. I push myself to be (keep) dovish, pacifist, and you can read my pacifist tone in every note I write. A framing that myself propagated for years.
(Very rare compliment and initiative pledge, and hopefully more readers more pledges to me. Thank you. Yes, even a lot of people associated me PRAVDA, not part of MIUCCIA PRADA. I’m literally asshole on debate, since in college). My note-live blog about Russia - Ukraine already click-read 4 millions.
=======
Thanks for reading Prada’s Newsletter. I was lured, inspired by someone writer, his post in LinkedIn months ago, “Currently after a routine daily writing newsletter in the last 10 years, my subscriber reaches 100,000. Maybe one of my subscribers is your boss.” After I get followed / subscribed by (literally) prominent AI and prominent Chief Product and Technology of mammoth global media (both: Sir, thank you so much), I try crafting more / better writing.
To get the ones who really appreciate your writing, and now prominent people appreciate my writing, priceless feeling. Prada ungated/no paywall every notes-but thank you for anyone open initiative pledge to me.
Listeners on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or Pocket Casts simultaneously. podcasting can transform more of a conversation. Invite listeners to weigh in on episodes directly with you and with each other through discussion threads. At Substack, the process is to build with writers. Podcasts are an amazing feature of the Substack. I wish it had a feature to read the words we have written down without us having to do the speaking. Thanks for reading Prada’s Newsletter.
