Decision marks a turning point in the U.S. position and was confirmed by the American president during a meeting with G7 leaders, in Japan. Training would be the first step before sending the modern war planes.
US President Joe Biden told G7 leaders in Japan that he intends to support the repatriation to Kiev of F-16 fighter jets by European countries, as well as the training of Ukrainian pilots, according to information released by a White House official.
The practice could begin as early as the next few weeks at an unspecified location on European soil, with the expectation of completion within 18 months.
The training is a prerequisite for the transfer of F-16 fighter jets and other modern warplanes from Western allies to Ukraine’s army.
The move radically alters Washington’s stance on the transfer of aircraft, such as F-16s, which was previously considered unfeasible – the move reportedly surprised some of the allies gathered in Japan. Previously, Washington had been reluctant to support plans by some European countries to give up their F-16s.
According to the US government official, Biden said that the US “will support a joint effort with our allies and partners to train Ukrainian pilots on fourth-generation combat aircraft, including F-16s, to further strengthen and enhance the capabilities of Ukraine’s Air Force.”
As the training progresses in the coming months, “our coalition of countries participating in this effort will decide when it will actually pass on the jets, how many will be provided, and who will pass them on,” he added. It was not revealed, however, which countries will participate in the operation.
According to a European diplomat quoted by the British newspaper The Guardian, “things have been moving very quickly in Japan. Much faster than we could have imagined.
Ukrainian Insistence
Ukraine has reiterated the need to receive and use modern Western jets against the Russian invasion, which began on February 24, 2022. So far, however, most of the country’s supporters have refused to comply with Kiev’s requests.
The exceptions are Poland and Slovakia, which have delivered 27 MiG-29 fighters to implement Ukraine’s Air Force.
Ukrainian military and government leaders argue that the F-16s are far more effective than the Soviet-era fighters currently in use.
But Western governments have been cautious, avoiding passing on a high number of weapons and military equipment, which could leave their own countries defenseless.
Another reason is an attempt to distance themselves from the possibility that Western weapons could reach areas of Russian territory and thus give Moscow a chance to escalate the conflict further.
Allied Support
This week, Ukraine’s President Volodimir Zelenski received promises from the UK and the Netherlands that they would be willing to help develop an “international coalition.”
While neither has confirmed the direct deployment of fighter jets, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte have promised the formation of the coalition to provide support to Ukraine’s Air Force.
As the deputy chairman of Ukraine’s National Security, Defense, and Intelligence Committee, Yegor Chernev, quoted by The Guardian, Belgium and Denmark have also indicated they are willing to pass on fighters. He hopes that other countries will do the same, following Biden’s statements.
After visiting Sunak at the British prime minister’s country estate in Chequers, Zelenski said he was “very confident” about the creation of the coalition.
On Friday night, the Ukrainian president wrote on Twitter that the “historic decision by the US and Biden to support an international coalition of warplanes” will increase Ukraine’s army in the sky. And that the practicalities of this should be discussed in Hiroshima, Japan, during the G7 summit.
Sunak, for his part, said that the UK was preparing to open a flight school to train Ukrainian pilots, and French President Emmanuel Macron offered the same possibility, although he ruled out sending planes to Kiev.
Also on Friday night on Twitter, the British Prime Minister wrote that the announcement for the training of Ukrainian pilots by the US is welcome, and that the UK will work together with the Americans, Dutch, Belgians and Danes.
gb (AFP, Reuters, ots)