Europe begins training Ukrainian pilots for US F-16 jets

2023-05-23 15:12:03, Kosova & Bota CNA

During the meeting of the defense ministers of the European Union, which is being held today in Brussels, it was confirmed that the training of Ukrainian pilots for the use of American fighter planes, F-16, has begun. Several European countries had expressed their willingness to accept the request made a few months ago by Ukrainian President Zelensky to be equipped with F-16 aircraft, but it was the reluctance of American President Joe Biden that did not allow this. That hurdle was overcome last week, during a high-level meeting of the world's seven richest countries in Japan, where President Biden gave the green light to the issue.

The High Representative of the European Union, Josep Borrell, said on Tuesday that the training of Ukrainian pilots with F-16 fighter jets has begun in several European countries.

He confirmed before the meeting of European defense ministers that he is happy that "the training of Ukrainian pilots for American F-16 fighter jets has finally started.

"It's always the same thing, we discuss, at first everyone hesitates and in the end, just like with the Leopard tanks, also with the F-16 planes, the decision comes to give this military support, because it is absolutely necessary for Ukraine to continue to is protected", said Mr. Borell.

The Minister of Defense of the Netherlands, Kajsa Ollongren, expressed satisfaction that the United States agreed to allow Ukrainian pilots to train for the F-16 fighter jets, which are of American production.

"This means we can go ahead and also finalize the plans we are making with Denmark and other allies to start training. This is the first step, as you must first have pilots to fly these planes. The next step would be to find the planes. We will continue to discuss with our allies and countries that may have F-16 aircraft about the next step, but that is in the next phase ," said Mrs. Ollongren.

US President Joe Biden announced during the high-level meeting of the world's seven most developed countries, held last week in Hiroshima, Japan, that the US will join the coalition of countries that are willing to train and provide Ukrainians with F-16 fighter jets.

The approval from the US president came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spent months pressuring the West to equip his forces with US-made aircraft as he tries to push back Russian forces that launched an attack on Ukraine 15 months ago. VOA