One of the officials who confirmed the information said that training using the US-made fighters will take place in Europe and will take months to complete. US officials have estimated the fastest time needed to train and deliver the F-16 at 18 months.
President Joe Biden attends a meeting at the G7 Summit in Japan on May 19, 5. Photo: Reuters
“As training progresses in the coming months, our coalition of nations involved in this effort will decide when to actually deliver the jets, how much we will deliver and who will deliver. grant them,” the official said.
Although the official did not say which countries would be involved, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the UK would work with the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark "to provide Ukraine with the combat air capability without This country needs it.”
The official added that the US hopes to begin training conducted on fourth-generation fighters, including the F-16, in the next few weeks.
Ukraine is asking the West for help with these Lockheed Martin-built planes, as it is said to be preparing to launch a major counter-offensive in its conflict with Russia.
Ukraine, which does not own any Western-designed fighters, says the F-16 is far more effective than the Soviet-era fighters it still uses. Previously, Poland and Slovakia handed over 27 MiG-29s to Ukraine.
Western governments have been wary of leaving their countries unprotected by giving away too much military equipment. They also avoid sending anything that could strike deep into Russian territory.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this week received pledges from the UK and the Netherlands to help build a "jet alliance", although the leaders of both countries have not said they will send the plane.
On Friday, Mr. Zelenskyy welcomed the news. “This will greatly strengthen our troops in the sky. I believe in discussing the practical implementation of this decision at the G7 summit in Hiroshima,” he wrote on Twitter.
Huy Hoang (according to Reuters, CNA)
