Ukraine Latest: Biden Rules Out F-16s Fighter Jets, For Now

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(Bloomberg) —

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The second year of Russia’s invasion has started much as the first year ended: air raid alerts sounded across Ukraine on Saturday morning after a fighter jet reportedly took off in Russia took off that may be carrying ballistic missiles. 

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said yesterday that his country will secure victory if allies maintain their support, possibly this year. “I am sure that there will be victory,” Zelenskiy told reporters in Kyiv. 

US President Joe Biden said he’s ruling out Ukraine’s request for F-16 fighter jets “for now,” even as Zelenskiy dials up pressure on Western allies to provide aircraft.  

Russia’s War in Ukraine: Key Events and How It’s Unfolding

You can follow all our special coverage of the one year mark of Russia’s invasion via our website, on Twitter and on Bloomberg Television, including live broadcasts from Kyiv. You can also read our biggest pieces from the past week on Flipboard. 

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(See RSAN on the Bloomberg Terminal for the Russian Sanctions Dashboard.)  

Listen to our special conversations from this week, including our Twitter Space yesterday analyzing Zelenskiy’s press conference as it happened. We also discussed the military strategies of the war, the impact on energy and the environment, the effect of sanctions including on the wealth of Russia’s oligarchs and what the future holds for Ukrainian refugees. 

Big Take Podcast: How Does Ukraine Continue to Beat Back Russia? 

Key Developments

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On the Ground: 

Russia’s main efforts continue to be focused on conducting offensive operations on the Kupyansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Shakhtars’ke axes, the Ukrainian General Staff said on Facebook. Russia carried out 27 airstrikes and 75 attacks from MLRS. Around Bakhmut, Kremlin troops are actively conducting aerial reconnaissance to adjust artillery fire. Russian troops shelled towns in Dnipropetrovsk region with heavy artillery, damaging three schools, 10 apartment buildings, 11 private houses, electricity lines and local gas transportation pipelines. 

(All times CET)

Russia, China Naval Drills Under Way Off South Africa (7:30 a.m.)

Joint naval exercises involving China, Russia and South Africa are under way as planned, TASS reported, citing the African nation’s defense ministry. The operation is expected to run through Monday. 

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Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleh Nikolenko said in a statement on Friday that Ukraine was “deeply concerned” about the drills and said South Africa was “adopting the experience of the Russian war machine.”

“We call on the Republic of South Africa not to encourage further Russian aggression and its sense of impunity,” he said. 

Read more: Russia, South Africa, China to Simulate Air Attacks in Exercise

Belarus President to Visit China From Tuesday (7 a.m.)

Alexander Lukashenko will make a state visit to China Feb. 28-March 2, including a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Global Times reported, citing Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying.   

Biden Rules Out Giving Ukraine F-16s ‘For Now’ (4:10 a.m.)

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President Joe Biden said he is ruling out Ukraine’s request for F-16 fighter jets at this time, despite increased pressure from Zelenskiy.

“He doesn’t need F-16s now,” Biden said in an interview with ABC News broadcast Friday evening. “I am ruling it out for now.”

The US has resisted sending Ukraine F-16 warplanes over concerns their delivery could further escalate the war, which is entering its second year. 

Biden Doesn’t Anticipate China Giving Russia Weapons Aid (4:10 a.m.)

Biden said he doesn’t expect China will provide significant assistance to Russia in the form of weapons to aid Moscow in its war against Ukraine, but warned any such action would draw a US response.

“I don’t anticipate — we haven’t seen it yet — but I don’t anticipate a major initiative on the part of China providing weaponry to Russia,” Biden said in the ABC News interview.

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EU Slaps Russia With 10th Package of Sanctions (11:10 p.m.)

European Union member states backed a 10th package of sanctions on Russia including tighter export restrictions and technology controls, as well as requiring banks to report information on Russian Central Bank and other sanctioned assets they hold.   

The bloc’s envoys signed off on the measures Friday, the Swedish presidency of the EU said in a tweet as it sought to advance the latest restrictions one year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

Poland Gives Conditional Backing to New EU Sanctions (10:08 p.m.)

Poland agreed to conditionally back the European Union’s latest planned package of sanctions against Russia, according to the country’s ambassador to the bloc.

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Poland set six conditions for its support, including a monitoring mechanism to end imports of Russian rubber and starting work on sanctions against Belarus. Discussions continued among member states.

World Bank Announces $2.5 Billion in New Ukraine Aid (7:45 p.m.)

The World Bank announced $2.5 billion in grant financing for Ukraine to provide budget support for essential services and core government functions, bringing funding it has mobilized to help the country to almost $21 billion.

The new funds, which will come from the US Agency for International Development, will help with key areas including health care, schools, payment of pensions, payments for displaced people, social assistance programs and wages for public employees.

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The Washington-based World Bank gives the money to Ukraine after verifying eligible expenses, rather than transferring it upfront, to help minimize the risk of corruption.

Zelenskiy Casts Doubt on Chinese Weapon Supplies to Russia (6:27 p.m.)

Ukraine’s president said he hopes China will stand with Ukraine, on the side of “just peace” – and lauded Beijing for beginning to address Ukraine. He expressed optimism that China embraces the principle of territorial integrity.

“I strongly believe that China will not supply weapons to the Russian Federation – for me it is important, for me it is the No. 1 point,” Zelenskiy said. “I’ll do everything to prevent this.”

The US has begun to issue warnings that China is weighing deliveries of lethal weapons to Russia. Beijing denies any such considerations even as its top diplomat this week called relations with Moscow “solid as a mountain.” Zelenskiy said the task is to “gather all to isolate one,” adding that “we should work with China.”

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Iran-Russia Cooperation Is Expanding, Kirby Says (6:06 p.m.)

The US believes that defense cooperation between Iran and Russia is intensifying, and that Moscow may offer Tehran fighter jets in addition to the existing flows of missiles, electronics and air-defense systems, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

Iran is also seeking to purchase billions of dollars in military equipment — including attack helicopters, combat trainer aircraft, and radar — from Russia, Kirby said. The US didn’t provide evidence for that finding or information about how that intelligence determination was reached.

Zelenskiy Again Rules Out Talks With Putin (5:51 p.m.)

President Zelenskiy reiterated that talks with his Russian counterpart are unacceptable. 

“There is nobody there to speak with now,” he told reporters when asked if he would accept a hypothetical offer to meet with Putin in Turkey.