The West is slow-rolling the process of giving Ukraine F-16s because it is scared of antagonizing Putin, former NATO commander says

• Ukraine's Western allies are wary of antagonizing Vladimir Putin, an ex-NATO commander said.
• The West is delaying the delivery of F-16 jets to Ukraine as a result.

The West is delaying the process of giving F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine because it is wary of antagonizing Russian President Vladimir Putin, a former NATO chief said.

Ukraine has been requesting F-16 planes for about a year, saying the fighter jets are essential if its to be able to defeat Russia, whose air force is bigger and better equipped.

Philip Breedlove, former Supreme Commander of the NATO Allied Forces in Europe, told Voice of America that Putin had succeeded in intimidating the West and delaying delivery of the fighter planes.

Breedlove, who was NATO chief from 2013-2017, said that several countries were willing to start training Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16s, but brakes had been put on the process in the US.

"There is restraint regarding quick action due to fears that Mr. Putin may cause certain important events. As I have said many times, the situation with the F-16s is just the case," Breedlove said.

"Mr. Putin's ground forces are failing him on the battlefield. But Putin's war of intimidation, his war to deter the West, is a resounding success. And this is what he works hard [on]. This intimidation led to deterrence, and slowed down things like sending the F-16s," he added.

Russia has repeatedly menaced the West with threats of nuclear attacks over its support for Ukraine.

Michael McFaul, a former US ambassador to Russia, said that delaying sending the planes could prolong the conflict, and increase the risk of the US getting dragged in.

"Sending ATACMs and F-16s to Ukraine now is less risky for the US than letting the war endure for longer," he tweeted.

In July, at the NATO summit in Lithuania, Ukraine said a formal agreement had been reached to begin a training program for pilots flying F-16s, pending US approval. It is unclear when this will begin.

In recent weeks Ukraine has launched a ground offensive aimed at driving back Russian forces, but its made only incremental advances against well-fortified Russian positions.

Ukraine says F-16s could help turn the tide in the campaign, preventing superior Russian aircraft from attacking Ukraine's forces on the ground, TIME reported.