The media assessed the likelihood of Trump lifting sanctions against Turkey

US President Donald Trump does not rule out the possibility of lifting sanctions against Turkey and resuming sales of F-16 fighter jets to Ankara after a conversation with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. This was reported on March 21 by Fox News.

"Trump has expressed his intention to help complete the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey and is open to the idea of selling Turkey its real cherished goal, the F—35 aircraft, if both sides can come to an agreement," the TV channel reports.

The sale of fighter jets to Turkey was approved by the US Congress last year. However, due to disagreements, negotiations between the Turkish Ministry of Defense and the American defense company Lockheed Martin, which manufactures these aircraft, are still ongoing. In total, the deal amounted to $23 billion.

In addition to the fighter jets, the United States was supposed to supply equipment kits to upgrade another 79 units of the fleet at Ankara's disposal.

Pir Osmanov: EU is interested in cooperation with Turkey

Ankara, in turn, intends to play a leading role in European affairs.

On March 20, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine had received several more F-16 fighter jets. The Ukrainian leader refused to name the number of fighters and details. Earlier, on March 9, according to Forbes magazine, the United States suspended support for F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine. This decision could jeopardize the capabilities of the Ukrainian Air Force. However, the Ukrainian army still has French-made Dassault Mirage 2000 fighters, the report says.