US signals support of allies for sending its F-16 jets to Ukraine

The US will give the go-ahead to allies who want to supply Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets and help train Ukrainian pilots to fly the aircraft, marking one of the most significant upgrades to Russia’s full-scale Kievan military capabilities. One of them will pave the way. attack last year

President Joe Biden told G7 leaders on Friday that Washington would support a joint effort to train Ukrainian pilots and later equip the country’s air force with F-16s and other fourth-generation fighters, a US official said. Will do

The US shift is a diplomatic victory for Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, who will push his case for further military support when he attends the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan later this week.

Zelensky welcomed a “historic decision” by the White House. ‘This will significantly increase our military in the sky,’ he said on Twitter.

Washington sees the effort as part of ensuring Ukraine has what it needs to strengthen its capabilities and defend itself over the long term. The US is unlikely to provide its F-16s to Kiev.

“As training takes place over the coming months, our coalition of nations participating in this effort will decide exactly when to provide the jets, how many we will provide and who will provide them,” a senior administration official said.

Speaking to reporters at the G7 summit, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan dismissed suggestions that the US had changed its policy. He said that the US had decided at different stages of the conflict which weapons were most appropriate.

Sullivan said, “We have reached a moment where it is time to look down the road and say that Ukraine needs to be able to deter and defend Russia’s aggression as part of its future course.” What needs to happen.” “F-16s and fourth-generation fighters are part of the fix.”

Zelensky has been pressing his allies for months to provide modern fighter jets to Ukraine’s depleted air force, which relies on older Soviet-made fighters that are inferior to Russia’s jets. Kiev has set its sights on the F-16, a multirole fighter built by Lockheed Martin that is used by many Western militaries.

But Washington had long resisted supplying the F-16s, arguing that they were not a priority for Ukraine and that they could prompt Moscow to escalate the war.

However, Ukraine’s efforts to assemble a coalition of countries willing to supply the F-16 rapidly gained traction this week when Britain, France, the Netherlands and other allies said they would begin training Ukrainian pilots.

The training is now expected to take place in Europe and will include the US and potentially several other partners. The process could take several months and Western jets are unlikely to fly over Ukraine in the immediate future, meaning they will not help support an imminent counter-offensive against Russia’s forces.

The US official said: “President Biden is sending a powerful signal of how the United States and our allies and partners are fully united in ensuring that Ukraine remains sovereign, independent and with the ability to defend and defend against future attacks.” safe with.”

Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said the jet would be a main topic of discussion in Japan for Zelensky.

“The air platform should be part of Ukraine’s air defense,” Reznikov told the Financial Times. “Air defense is our priority number one.”

The F-16s will bolster Ukraine’s air defense capabilities and allow it to support ground operations, challenging Russia’s strategic air supremacy on the front line. Much will depend on what weapon systems the Western partners are willing to supply.

The Netherlands is phasing out its F-16s and could potentially be one of the largest suppliers to Ukraine. Denmark and Belgium also have F-16s.

Mark Rutte, the prime minister of the Netherlands, welcomed the US announcement on Friday and said “the modalities will be worked out in the coming weeks”.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who spearheaded the fighter jet alliance and was the leader in pledging training for Ukrainian pilots, said his country would work with the US and the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark “to provide Ukraine with combat air capability”. Needed” .