Official: US to let European countries train Ukrainian pilots on F-16s.
The U.S. will allow European countries to launch much-anticipated training for the Ukrainian pilots to use F-16 fighter jets after reports that Europe was awaiting formal approval, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told[1] CNN. "The president has given a green light, and we will allow, permit, support, facilitate and in fact provide the necessary tools for Ukrainians to begin being trained on F-16s as soon as the Europeans are prepared," Sullivan said, providing no timeframe for when the training will begin.
European leaders have said they need several weeks to prepare training abilities, said Sullivan. "The U.S. will not be the hold up in ensuring that this F-16 training can get underway," he said. Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov announced[2] on July 11 that the "fighter jet coalition" had been officially formed during a NATO summit in Vilnius.
Meanwhile, Sullivan also said the U.S. is running low on stockpile ammunition as it helps Ukraine to defend itself from the Russian invasion. "President Biden ordered his Pentagon to work rapidly to scale up the ability of the United States to produce all the ammunition we could ever need for any conflict at any time," Sullivan said. Read also: Ukraine war latest: G7 agrees on long-term security commitment for Ukraine[3]
Alexander Khrebet
Reporter
Alexander Khrebet is a reporter with the Kyiv Independent.
He covers Ukraine's foreign policy, alleged abuse of power in the country's military leadership, and reports on the Russian-occupied territories.
Alexander is the European Press Prize 2023 winner, the #AllForJan Award 2023 winner and Ukraine's 2022 National Investigative Journalism Award finalist.
His was published in the Washington Times and Atlantic Council.