 White House. F-16s will not be decisive in Ukraine. The delivery of U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine would be unlikely to have a significant impact on the battlefield, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan claimed. When asked to respond to continue demands for the jets, with Kiev arguing that they are crucial in providing air cover for troops and defending the country's airspace, Sullivan stated that the U.S. is moving rapidly to try to help Ukraine get the capability it needs to be able to actually operate those F-16s effectively. According to Sullivan, those steps include working with U.S. allies to create training programs for Ukrainian pilots and figuring out how to sustain and service F-16 squadrons in battle. While that work is underway, the official said it's unlikely that these capabilities will play a decisive role in the conflict. Russia has somewhere in the neighborhood of eight or nine hundred fourth and fifth generation fighters, Sullivan said, and yet they have not played a significant role in Russia's counter-offensive or defensive efforts in the south or the east. Why is that? He said. The official suggested that as air defense is such a significant element to both sides' capabilities, both Russia and Ukraine can put each other's fourth and fifth generation fighters at risk. Sullivan went on to claim that U.S. military commanders don't believe F-16s would be able to play a decisive role in the counter-offensive but stressed their importance for the long-term defense and deterrent capability of Ukraine. U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff Mark Milley earlier acknowledged that Washington does not have the ability to supply enough F-16 fighter jets to assist Ukraine's counter-offensive.