Zelenskyy thanks Poland for decision that will speed up F-16 delivery

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the Polish government has made a decision that will speed up the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.

Zelenskyy noted on Twitter (X) that at the European Political Community Summit in the UK on 18 July, he met with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk "to discuss strengthening Ukraine's defence capabilities".

"And today, we have a positive decision from the Polish government on a specific issue, which will allow Ukraine to receive F-16 jets sooner.

I am grateful to Prime Minister Tusk for efficiently following up on our previous agreements. I am grateful to Poland for its strong support for Ukraine," he tweeted.

Zelenskyy did not specify what decision he was referring to, and the Polish government has not made any public announcement.

Polish media suggest that Poland's involvement may be linked to arranging the delivery of the fighter jets to Ukraine or addressing logistical issues. Warsaw is not sending its own F-16s to Ukraine.

The leaders of the United States, Denmark and the Netherlands, Joe Biden, Mette Frederiksen and Dick Schoof, who head the Fighter Jet Coalition, announced on 10 July that Ukraine would receive the first F-16s this summer.

Bloomberg has reported that Ukraine expects to receive six F-16s from its Western partners this summer and up to 20 aircraft by the end of the year.