 Democrats call on Biden to give Ukraine F-16 jets. U.S. President Joe Biden's fellow party members are pressuring him to make a decision on sending F-16 fighters and long-range missiles to Ukraine. Members of Congress from the Democratic and Republican parties called on Biden to supply Ukraine with long-range ATA CMS rocket artillery and modern F-16 fighters, the Hill Agency writes. The present could be key in the defense of Ukrainian people and any offensive push against Russian positions, the lawmakers argue, and some U.S. military leaders agree. The agency notes. The Hill names the leading figures in the Democratic Party who are putting the most pressure on Biden. These are Jason Crowe, Richard Blumenthal, Sheldon Whitehouse, Jared Golden and Mark Kelly. Despite the calls, the news agency notes that the White House has not yet changed its position refusing to supply Ukraine with ATA CMS and F-16s. But the U.S. pledge in January to provide M1 Abrams main battle tanks to Ukraine earlier this spring after months of opposition from the White House has given calls for optimism that the administration may come around to providing even heavier weaponry, writes the Hill. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba asks Ukraine's friendly countries to speed up the decision to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets. According to him, Ukraine needs not only air defense systems which its friends have already shared with it, but also combat aircraft. We need aircraft to cover our combat brigades, which will go on the counter-offensive. We need combat aircraft to protect the Black Sea and our coastal territories, Kuleba said.