US Backs Plan To Train Ukrainian Pilots On F-16 Fighter Jets, Joe Biden Tells G7 Leaders

Amid ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, the United States has said that it supports the plan to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets.

In a big development, US President Joe Biden on Friday told G7 leaders that Washington supports joint allied training programs for Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets, reported Reuters citing senior US officials. The move is a significant endorsement as Kyiv has been seeking to boost its air power against Russia for quite some time now. 

According to a Reuters report, training on the US-made jets will take place in Europe and will require months to complete, one of the officials said. The officials estimate that the most expeditious time needed for training and delivery of F-16s is 18 months. 

"As the training takes place over the coming months, our coalition of countries participating in this effort will decide when to actually provide jets, how many we will provide, and who will provide them," the official said, as quoted by Reuters. 

However, Reuters stated that the official did not say which countries would participate. But British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said, Reuters mentioned, the UK would work with the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark "to get Ukraine the combat air capability it needs."  

Furthermore, Denmark's defense ministry said it was ready to support the training. 

As for the training, the US hopes to begin it in the coming weeks, the official added. 

Notably, Ukraine is seeking the jets, made by Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) It had said that the F-16s are far more effective than the Soviet-era fighters it still uses. Reuters added that Poland and Slovakia have handed over 27 MiG-29s to Ukraine. 

However, Western governments have been wary of leaving their own countries undefended by giving away too much equipment. They have even avoided sending anything that could strike deep into Russian territory and give Moscow a reason to attack, the Reuters report said. 

Meanwhile, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy received pledges this week from Britain and the Netherlands to help build a "jets coalition".  Although both leaders stopped short of saying they will send planes. 

Zelenskiy welcomed the news on Friday. "This will greatly enhance our army in the sky. I count on discussing the practical implementation of this decision at the #G7 summit in Hiroshima," he said on Twitter. 

The Ukrainian President has reached Hiroshima to take part in the G7 summit being held under the chair of Japan.