Biden says 'no' when asked about F-16s for Ukraine Zelenskiy says Moscow seeks 'big revenge' Russian administrator claims foothold in Vuhledar Kyiv could recapture ground when Western weapons arrive - group

Ukraine planned to push for Western fourth-generation fighters like F-16s after securing supplies of main battle tanks last week, an adviser to Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said on Friday.

In remarks carried on French television before Biden spoke in Washington, Macron stressed any such move would depend on several factors including the need to avoid escalation and assurances that the aircraft would not "touch Russian soil."

Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukraine president's office, noted "positive signals" from Poland and said France "does not exclude" such a move in separate posts on his Telegram channel.

Biden's comment came shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia had begun exacting its revenge for Ukraine's resistance to its invasion with relentless attacks in the east, where it appeared to be making incremental gains.

Pushilin's adviser, Yan Gagin, said fighters from Russian mercenary force Wagner had taken partial control of a supply road leading to Bakhmut, a city that has been Moscow's focus for months.