Expert doubts Ukraine can secretly prepare for F-16s, while Ukraine sees modern warplanes as investment in security and Russian father keeps parental rights.

An air-warfare analyst for Britain's Royal United Service Institute (RUSI) think tank has said that Russia would notice if Ukraine began modifying its airbases to support F-16s. The F-16 requires specially prepared airbases, which can be identified and targeted by Russia. Despite being numerically and technologically outmatched by Russian aircraft and air-to-air missiles, Ukraine's air force has proven remarkably resilient and resourceful. Western bloc nations have yet to send jets to Ukraine because of concerns about Ukrainian unfamiliarity with Western aircraft and for fear of provoking Russia.