According to European Commission foreign affairs chief Josepp Borrell, training for Ukrainian F16 pilots in Europe has begun. Especially in Poland there is a lot of training. According to European journalist Geert Jan Hahn, this means that the fighter jets will almost certainly be delivered. “Of course you don’t train to not play the game at the end.”
Borell made his statements in Brussels, where 27 European countries met to discuss European defense cooperation. According to Hahn, the Netherlands is in “pole position” when it comes to supplying F-16s, also because the Ukrainians are well aware that we will switch to the new F-35s in 2024. “The bottom line is that they in Ukraine are aware that we could be the first European country to actually give them”.
Receipts
Another topic that Borrell tackles is the receipts that European countries have handed over for the military aid they have provided to Ukraine. These would amount to more than ten billion euros. “I’m curious how it will be paid,” Hahn said. ‘It has to do with a jar where you can declare arms, the European Peace Instrument. But I think there are only 3 to 5 billion euros in that jar. If we have to deliver those F-16s, we can’t declare it. Perhaps they will become clearer on this after the meeting this afternoon.’
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
