US says weighs sending American-made fighter jets to Ukraine

The US is considering the possibility of supplying American fighter jets to Ukraine, a White House spokesman said, further unveiling the latest weapons bundle for Kiev.

"It's not something that would be executed in the near-term," John Kirby said in a Friday press briefing, saying that while the Biden administration was making preliminary explorations into the feasibility of providing the jets to Ukraine, the move is not something that would be done immediately.

Kirby, who served until recently as the chief Pentagon spokesperson, further disclosed details of the newest US weapons bundle set to be shipped to Ukraine – totaling $270 million, including $100 million for drones – amid reports of Russian expansion of its military operation beyond eastern Ukraine in the face of growing shipment of advanced US armaments to the Western-sponsored country.

The arms package -- authorized by US President Joe Biden -- will enable Kiev to acquire 580 of privately held AEVEX Aerospace LLC's Phoenix Ghost unmanned aerial vehicles, Kirby added, referring to what has widely been described as a secretive "suicide drone."

The newest military aid also includes another tranche of up to $175 million for other weapons shipments, according to a separate White House memo cited in local news reports.

US to send four more rocket launchers to Ukraine

The US says it will send four additional high mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS) to Ukraine.

It would include more high mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS) and other weapons that Kiev forces are using on the battlefield, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

The move would mark another major increase in US military support for Kiev in its losing battle against Russian forces that started a special military operation in Ukraine in response to NATO plans to expand into the country bordering Russia.

The US has so provided $8.2 billion in military aid for Kiev.

This is while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed again this week that his forces could inflict major damage on Russia as Kiev depends on Western weapons in so far failed efforts to launch counterattacks to recapture territory.

The remarks came as Moscow ordered Russian troops to prioritize destroying Ukraine’s Western-supplied long-range missiles, insisting that the advanced projectiles are used to strike Russian supply lines.

Moscow orders troops to prioritize destroying Ukraine’s Western-supplied long-range missiles

The Western-supplied weapons include long-range arms which Kiev says are beginning to help on the battlefield.

Outgoing British PM vows UK’s continued support for Kiev

The development came as outgoing British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also pledged to Zelensky on Friday that London would back Kiev in its battlefield struggle against Russian advances even after he has left office.

In a phone call with Ukrainian president, the widely defamed British premier further reiterated that London "will not waver" in that position.

"He stressed the UK's ongoing determination to support the Ukrainian people and said that resolve will not waver, no matter who becomes the next UK Prime Minister," said a Downing Street spokeswoman citing a summary of their conversation.

"President Zelensky thanked the PM for his staunch support for Ukraine, and for his kind words in his last address to parliament," she added.

During Johnson's final appearance at weekly "Prime Minister's Questions" in the House of Commons on Wednesday, the controversial prime minister – who has been accused of lying his way to power throughout his political career – further offered "some words of advice" to his successor.

The man who rose to power through lies, unruly attitude

Britain’s soon-to-be-ex-prime minister Boris Johnson has “a long and well-documented history” of evading the truth while acting as if he should be exempt from the normal rules of conduct, a report emphasizes.

"No. 1: stay close to the Americans; stick up for the Ukrainians; stick up for freedom and democracy everywhere," he boasted amid cheers from corruption-plagued colleagues in his ruling Conservative Party.

Johnson, who has been one of Ukraine's biggest backers during its five-month conflict with Russia, is set to hand power over to a successor in early September after vowing to resign this month following months of scandals.

The two candidates vying to replace him -- ex-finance minister Rishi Sunak and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss -- have both promised to maintain the policy of offering strong diplomatic and military support to Kiev.

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