The CEO of Ukraine's largest oil and gas company, Naftogaz, said Ukraine "should" discuss the Russian gas transit contract with the European Union, the day after Ukraine's energy minister said the country would "not be party to talks with Russia" about renewing the contract.
"I believe we should discuss it, together with European Union consumers, and understand the position of the European Union," Oleksiy Chernyshov said, when asked on the future of the arrangement that currently allows Russia to send gas to Europe via Ukraine. The deal is set to expire at the end of 2024.
On Wednesday, Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko had signaled that Ukraine would not discuss a renewal of the contract with Russia, according to Reuters.
Ukraine will not be able to use U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets in 2023, air force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat told Ukrainian television Wednesday night, according to Reuters.
"It's already obvious we won't be able to defend Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets during this autumn and winter," Ihnat reportedly said in a joint telethon broadcast by Ukrainian channels.
Ukraine has long been lobbying Western allies for the war planes, and while U.S. President Joe Biden agreed to training Ukrainian pilots in May, no timeline has been set for delivery of the aircraft.