Defense Minister: Sending Finnish combat aircraft to Ukraine currently irrelevant

Finnish Defense Minister Antti Kaikonen said this in an interview with local media, Xinhua reports, according to Ukrinform

"The fighter jets will be used by our defense forces for the coming years, after which their life cycle will end," Kaikonen replied to a question about Ukraine's request for the transfer of F-18 aircraft.

According to him, Finland officially responded to Ukraine's request last week.

In early March, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, during a visit to Kyiv, announced the possibility of transferring Finnish combat aircraft to Ukraine, but the Finnish president and defense minister immediately said they were not aware of such plans.

Shortly thereafter, Ukraine asked Finland for the transfer of the aircraft.