Pentagon: We hope that F-16 training for Ukrainian pilots will begin in the near future

According to Fars International News Agency, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed hope that the training of Ukrainian pilots to use US-made F-16 fighter jets will begin in the coming weeks.

Earlier and at the same time as the comments of Western officials about sending F-16 fighters to Ukraine intensified, Moscow’s ambassador in Washington warned about the interference of NATO member countries in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

According to the Associated Press, the Secretary of Defense of the United States made these statements before a private virtual meeting of defense chiefs from around the world to discuss military support for Ukraine. Today’s meeting is expected to be about which countries will provide Ukraine with F-16s and where pilot training will take place.

The United States has long refused to provide these advanced fighters to Ukraine, despite the requests of the president of this country, Volodymyr Zelensky, and it was only last week that Joe Biden gave the green light to send these jets from the countries that have them.

In his statement today, the US Defense Minister said: We hope this training will begin in the coming weeks. This will strengthen and improve the capabilities of the Ukrainian Air Force in the long term. This new joint effort sends a powerful message of our unity and commitment to Ukraine’s (ability to) defend itself.

Austin’s statements come despite the fact that “Joseph Burrell” in charge of foreign policy of the European Union announced earlier that Ukrainian pilots have started training in the use of F-16 fighters in several countries, for example Poland.

After this comment, Polish Defense Minister Burrell said that the training is still in the planning stage. According to the Associated Press, the Netherlands and Denmark are also planning to train Ukrainian pilots.

“Frank Kendall,” the commander of the United States Air Force, announced on Monday that it will take several months in the best case for the F-16 fighters to reach Ukraine.

After meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart on the sidelines of the Group of Seven meeting, Biden announced that Kiev has guaranteed not to use the F-16 fighter jet to attack Russian territory. However, the US national security adviser said that the country would not place any restrictions on Ukraine’s ability to attack the Russian military inside Ukraine’s borders, including the Crimean peninsula.

The Moscow authorities have repeatedly warned the Ukrainian authorities and its Western allies about the attack on Crimea and have declared that China will consider an attack as an attack on Russia and will defend its interests with all means, including nuclear weapons.

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