The US is about to send F-16 fighter jets to Kiev, Moscow announced that there is no need for negotiations, Mr. Zelensky called on Arab countries for support

On May 19, US President Joe Biden approved a plan to train Ukrainian pilots to use US-made F-16 fighter jets. This is seen as a prerequisite for sending these advanced aircraft to Ukraine.

Russia-Ukraine conflict: US supports plan to train Ukrainian pilots to use F-16 fighter jets. (Source: AP)

This view was expressed during a discussion among leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) industrialized nations regarding plans for tougher sanctions against Moscow in connection with its special military operation in Ukraine.

G7 leaders have met in Hiroshima, Japan, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will also be present on May 21, marking his furthest trip since the conflict with Russia broke out last February.

At the G7 summit, the group's leaders heard for the first time the US President's view supporting a plan to train Ukrainian pilots to use F-16 fighter jets, considering this a prerequisite for sending these advanced aircraft to Ukraine.

Accordingly, the timing and method of delivery of the F-16 fighter jets manufactured by Lockheed Martin will be announced in the coming months, as training is underway. The training is expected to take place in Europe.

* On May 19, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on countries participating in the Arab League (AL) summit to support his peace initiative aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

In his speech at the conference, President Zelensky, who was on his first trip to Saudi Arabia, said that delegates attending the conference would receive the text of the 10-point peace plan and urged them to work with Ukraine.

* On May 19, Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, stated that Russia can only conduct negotiations with the US regarding Ukraine , in order to discuss the conditions of a post-conflict world order, but affirmed that it is too early to engage in dialogue on this issue.

Posting on Telegram , Medvedev emphasized: "We can only have dialogue with 'the bosses'. Or rather, only with Washington. There simply are no other dialogue partners. And we can only discuss the conditions of the post-war world order. Although it is too early to talk about this. Therefore, there is no need for negotiations at the moment."

Earlier that day, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared that any peace initiative aimed at facilitating equal negotiations between Russia and Ukraine should be rejected.

* On May 19, the Polish Foreign Ministry announced that Warsaw hopes China will pressure Russia to end the conflict in Ukraine.

The statement was issued following a meeting between the Polish Deputy Foreign Minister and China's Special Envoy for Eurasian Affairs, Li Hui.

Earlier, on May 18, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Special Envoy Li Hui had clarified Beijing's position on the crisis in Ukraine during his visit to Kyiv on May 16-17.

The statement read: "Mr. Li Hui stated China's position on a political solution to the crisis in Ukraine." It is understood that the Chinese envoy held separate meetings with the Chief of Staff to the President, Andrey Yermak, and the Foreign Minister, Dmitry Kuleba, of the host country.

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