US decision to supply fighter jets to Ukraine

The United States and its allies will send fourth-generation fighter jets, including F16s, to Ukraine after the pilots have received the necessary training.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan held a press conference in Hiroshima, Japan, where he was on the sidelines of the G7 Leaders Summit. Noting that US President Joe Biden has informed his G7 counterparts that he will support a joint effort to train Ukrainian pilots on fourth-generation fighter jets, including F16s, Sullivan noted that they have kept their promises and provided give Ukraine the support they need.

Sullivan said that they are now discussing the development of the Ukrainian air force as part of their long-term commitment to the defense of Ukraine. she used the phrase.

Noting that President Biden has not taken the F16 option off the table before, Sullivan said that the support given to Ukraine so far has been done in accordance with the requirements of the conflicts.

Sullivan explained that with their support, they have put the Ukrainians in a position to advance on the battlefield through counterattacks, and that fourth-generation fighter jets are part of allowing Ukraine to deter and defend against Russia in the future.

Noting that Ukrainian pilots will be trained in the first stage, Sullivan said they will work with allies and the Ukrainians to determine how the aircraft will be acquired over time, and that these decisions are made on the advice of military commanders. Sullivan stated that they currently think that the main need of the Ukrainians is not the F16, since they will need it in the future, the appropriate time is to start training now.

On the other hand, Sullivan reiterated that the US and other partners do not support Ukraine’s attack on Russian territory with F16 aircraft, noting that the Ukrainians also stated that they were willing to comply with this warning.

ZELENSKY TO ATTEND THE G7 SUMMIT

Regarding Biden’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is going to Japan to attend the G7 summit, Sullivan said that they have not yet made an official statement on this matter, but Biden hopes to meet with Zelenskiy.
Sullivan did not respond to a question about how the Ukrainian leader got to Japan, but said the United States was not involved in the trip.

According to the US press, US officials said Biden said he would support the plan to provide F-16 training to Ukrainian pilots, noting that this was a step for the US to send F-16s to Ukraine.

The officials reported that Biden said that decisions about when, how many and who will make these fighter jets will be made in the coming months as training continues. The authorities also reported that the training in question will be given in Europe and will begin in the coming weeks.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed the information in his Twitter post, saying: “I welcome the historic decision by the United States and Mr. Biden to support the international coalition of fighter jets. This decision will further strengthen our army in heaven. I think we will discuss the implementation of this decision at the G7 Summit in Hiroshima.

Britain and the Netherlands announced on the sidelines of a Council of Europe summit in Iceland that they had agreed on an “international coalition” to supply Ukraine with fighter jets.

In addition, Great Britain and Germany announced that they will not deliver fighter jets to kyiv in the near future and that the final decision on a possible delivery of F16 fighter jets to Ukraine rests with the United States. (AA)