After Joe Biden's hesitant stance, the US wants to train Ukrainian pilots on fighter jets. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomes the decision.
Hiroshima - Ukraine has long been calling for more military support from the West, especially fighter jets. US President Joe Biden has always been cautious in this regard. Biden's administration did not want to give in despite pressure from Congress. But on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, he abandoned his hesitant course. The United States wants to support the training of Ukrainian pilots on fighter jets. What this means for the deliveries of fighter jets to Ukraine, he left open.
The first prototype took to the skies in 1974, and in 1979 the F-16 entered service with the US Air Force. © Mindaugas Kulbis/AP/dpa
Fighter jets for Ukraine: US supports training of Ukrainian pilots
The United States will "support the training of Ukrainian pilots on fourth-generation fighter jets, including the F-16," a senior U.S. official said in Hiroshima on Friday (May 19). During the training, the U.S., along with the U.K., the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark, will decide "when we actually provide jets, how many we will provide, and who will provide them."
The so-called "fighter jet coalition" got more members like France. Portugal also joined, as Ukrainian media reported on a visit by Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to Lisbon. The months-long training will take place outside Ukraine at European locations. We hope to be able to start this training in the coming weeks," the U.S. government official continued.
US U-turn: fighter jets for Ukraine - Zelensky speaks of "historic decision"
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has hailed US support for the fighter jet coalition as a "historic decision". "This will significantly strengthen our army in the sky," Zelenskyy tweeted early Friday night. "I look forward to discussing the practical implementation of this decision during the #G7 Summit in Hiroshima."
In the war against Russia, Ukraine had so far only received Soviet-made MiG-29 fighter jets from the West. However, the country's armed forces would like to see Western-style aircraft. First and foremost, this includes the F-16 built in the USA. The jet is considered an all-rounder that is available in large numbers and is used in many states. In addition, the U.S. has a key role to play as a manufacturing country, as the U.S. must also approve any export of F-16s from the stocks of allies. Because of the sensitive technology of the jets, they also have a say in who is trained on them. Recently, several European states had increased pressure to approach Kiev on the issue. (vk/afp)
