Half of Ukraine's F-16s unable to fly combat missions due to maintenance delays

The planes sit idle after hitting 300 flight hours when they need a scheduled overhaul. In Belgium, the job can last up to 40 weeks, compared to 2-6 weeks in the United States.

In the US, the problem has been described as a technical support system failure that is turning into a crisis for the Ukrainian air defense.

A Wall Street Journal source says more than half of Ukraine's F-16s are currently "suspended" for maintenance. At the current rate of flying and repairs, the remaining combat-ready fleet may be exhausted by the end of the year.

During a call with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stora, Zelenskiy briefed him on the attacks and discussed what Ukraine needs to strengthen its defenses, with air defense systems and support for its F-16 fleet top priorities.