A year ago, our team launched an advocacy campaign for the transfer of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. Together with other Ukrainian civic activists, diplomats, and military, we advocated for F-16 at public events and behind closed doors at meetings with American, European, and world leaders.
The last month was crucial for us. We decided to ask our European partners to form a coalition for F16. We asked them to become our voice and to impact the USA to give Ukraine vital technologies. And despite all the skepticism, we succeeded. After lengthy negotiations, the UK, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Denmark finally supported Ukraine.
May 2023 was an example of how the synergy between civil society, the military, and the government can bring results – Ukraine will receive F-16s, and we will be able to protect our skies and our people. So, how did this happen, and what was the path of the advocacy campaign for the F-16s?
Security forums and personal meetings
Over the past year, our team has attended all possible security forums and conferences, calling on the world to provide Ukraine with F-16s.
Among them are: Warsaw Security Forum, Munich Security Conference, Copenhagen Democracy Summit, PISM Strategic Ark, Lennart Meri Conference, Halifax International Security Forum, and others.
At the Warsaw Security Forum last October, even before the massive shelling of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure began, we called on defense ministers, presidents, and leaders to provide us with the tools we need to defend and win.
“Sometimes we just made “interventions” into security forums. Civic activists can afford what diplomats cannot afford – we can be loud, we can organize public actions, and we can speak directly and without embellishment. Personal communication, negotiation, and persuasion are an important part of our work. Most of which is and will be invisible and unknown until this war is over”
— says Daria Kaleniuk, co-founder of ICUV.
Participation in such events provides an opportunity to exert public and media pressure on politicians and decision-makers.
Also, we have held hundreds of meetings with politicians, analysts, diplomats, media representatives, and opinion leaders in different countries during our numerous advocacy visits. The main focus was, of course, on the United States and Washington, DC. As the United States is the center of decision-making. We met with senators and congressmen, engaged the Ukrainian diaspora, and sought their support.
Mass demonstrations and public protests for F-16s
ICUV, together with partners, organizations, and communities worldwide, has organized protests and mass events to draw attention to the need for F16s in the USA, Canada, and Europe. For example, the rally “Let Ukrainian freedom fly” in Chicago (USA) brought together Americans and Ukrainians asking for F-16s to Ukraine.
As well, during the NATO summit in Madrid (Spain), more than 500 Ukrainians took to the streets with a request to provide weapons for liberating the occupied territories of Ukraine and stopping the genocide of Ukrainians by Russia.
In October, the “Ukrainian Circle of Defence” action united people all over the world have formed circles around famous landmarks in their countries.
One of the loudest actions was in Warsaw (Poland) before Biden’s arrival in February 2023. A group of Ukrainian and Polish civic activists and volunteers held a three-day demonstration for F-16 on the streets of Warsaw. It took place in front of the Marriott Hotel where US President Joe Biden was staying, during his visit to Poland. It was held by Wschód and Euromaidan Warsaw with ICUV.
Activists of Euromaidan-Warszawa also launched a petition to U.S. President Joe Biden calling for Ukraine to be granted F-16s.
The T-shirt diplomacy
The F-16s advocacy campaign was accompanied by visual materials and souvenirs. For this year we presented F-16 T-shirts to world leaders, politicians, military officers, presidents, and government officials at every meeting, forum, or public event.
The main element of T-shirt diplomacy is publicity and media coverage. Giving a T-shirt is a symbolic gesture that is very important for drawing attention to Ukraine and to our F-16s campaign.
Supporters of Ukraine wear them both to attract attention and to promote our victory. Haters of Ukraine should keep a straight face when receiving such a gift in public.
Our arguments – why F-16s?
- A tool of air defense to protect the lives of people and critical infrastructure
Ukrainian air defense systems destroy about 75% of cruise missiles and drones in relatively peaceful areas. This means that around 25% do reach their targets, killing civilians or destroying critical infrastructure facilities, including threatening the integrity and security of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, which could have implications far beyond the Ukrainian borders.
During the winter missile terror campaign, russia intentionally targeted the electrical grid and its parts, including substations that connect nuclear power plants with the grid. When a nuclear plant has no access to the grid, it becomes 100% reliable on emergency diesel generators, availability of fuel, and proper functioning of its critical elements.
The F-16 will become an integral part of the country’s air defense, able to intercept aerial threats at our borders, therefore protecting both the lives of people and critical infrastructure. It is important to be preparing the country’s air defense for the next winter season now.
- A reliable cover of the frontline from the new russian threats
Due to the bigger number of available jets and ammunition, and the significant technological advantage of the russian fighter jets, Ukraine has no effective means to protect ground troops and civilians in the frontline zone from daily terror attacks by enemy aircraft and helicopters.
Moreover, in the last weeks, russians have been using more actively newly-manufactured 500 kg guided bombs that are being dropped from jets outside the range of Ukraine’s air defense systems. Given their efficiency and relatively low cost, russians launched their mass production. Those bombs can travel 50+ km and cause detrimental damage. russians are using them across the entire frontline, in the south, east, and north of Ukraine.
The only relevant response is the multi-purpose fighter jet F-16 which would keep the bomb-carrying russian planes away from Ukrainian borders.
- Effective air support for combat missions
The war with russia can’t be won without air superiority, based on ground operations only. The military doctrines of NATO and the US foresee the establishment of air superiority before starting any other types of operations in order to save troops and ensure maneuverability, flexibility, and efficiency of combat actions. F-16 aircraft could be used not only to hit air targets but also those on the ground and in the sea which are beyond the range of enemy air defense Systems.
- The only sustainable guarantee for the grain deal implementation
The Black Sea is currently under the control of the russian fleet and jets. On July 22, 2022, the Grain Deal, signed by the UN, Ukraine, Turkey, and russia was enacted. As of April 9, 2023, more than 27,5 million tons of Ukrainian crops were exported. However, russians are regularly interrupting the deal by delaying the inspection of ships or threatening to withdraw from it, thus
blackmailing the world with famines and inflation in order to push the West to lift the sanctions. The latest case of russian blackmail happened as recently as April 17, 2023.
With F-16 and anti-ship missiles like Harpoon, Ukrainians will be able to drive the enemy fleet and planes away, thus ensuring the only truly sustainable guarantee for the grain deal implementation.
- A vital guarantee for any reconstruction efforts
The risks of destruction of infrastructure or business facilities are detrimental restrictions for the reconstruction efforts, investments, and revival of economic growth are critically needed for the war-torn economy. The complex air defense with multi-function jets as its part is an important prerequisite for the efficiency of these efforts.
- Why F-16, not other Western fighter jets?
F-16 are multipurpose jets, fulfilling the functions of both counter-air operations and air-to-ground/sea combat. The number of F-16 jets across the world is the largest compared to any other Western platform, simplifying the logistics and making the availability of spare parts easier. It has one of the best spectrums of missiles and bombs interoperable with it. Ukrainian armed forces are already using some of those missiles, e.g. HARM, AMRAAM, and Harpoons.
When and how many F-16s to Expect
The most likely supplier of the first F-16s to Ukraine is the Netherlands. The country has 61 F-16s in service and plans to switch to more modern F-22/35s.
Belgium and Denmark are also mentioned as possible suppliers, with 53 and 44 American fighters in service, respectively. The countries are also preparing to replace their F-16 fleet with modern F-35s. Potentially, Ukraine could also receive or purchase 10 Norwegian F-16s.
Australia has already requested the United States to transfer its 24 F/A-18s, which are in storage and not used by the Australian Air Force. Canada, Finland, and Spain are also planning to retire F/A-18s and replace them with fifth-generation aircraft.
So, Ukraine can count on about 100-150 American aircraft in 2023-2024. This should be enough to completely replace our fleet of old Soviet fighters.
Now, in addition to formal statements, Ukraine expects concrete steps, completeness, and deadlines. The first real milestone will be to train our pilots.
What is next?
“The next step is to invite Ukraine to join the NATO in NATO Vilnius summit in July this year. Only joining NATO can give us the necessary security guarantees and protect us from further wars with russia. Now we have a unique moment – we are supported by people around the world, and people empathize with us, so now we need to convince politicians, talk to opinion leaders, and meet with US senators and congressmen to make this happen. Our next advocacy campaign will be held under the slogan “Ukraine NATO 33d”. This means that Ukraine will become the 33rd NATO member country. This is our goal now”,
— Daria Kaleniuk summarized.
Highlights of media coverage of the F-16 advocacy campaign:
Daria Kaleniuk for MSNBC
Hanna Hopko for USAID
Daria Kaleniuk and Hanna Hopko for VIA RITZAU
Hanna Hopko for The Messenger
Olena Halushka, Daria Kaleniuk, Hanna Hopko, and Olga Aivazovska for Ukrainaska Pravda