Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

US and allies to provide F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine

US and allies to provide F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly called on the US to provide the fighter jets but Joe Biden had so far refused the requests.

The US and its allies plan to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets, a White House official has said.

The timing for when Ukraine will receive the jets - and which countries will provide them - remains unclear, but the official said the planes will not be used for Ukraine's upcoming counteroffensive against Russia.

The US and its allies will "decide when to actually provide jets, how many we will provide, and who will provide them", the official said.

The move comes after US President Joe Biden previously refused requests from Volodymyr Zelenskyy for F-16 jets.

The Ukrainian president frequently asks world leaders for fighter aircraft, which until now have been rebuffed.

On a visit to London, he even presented the Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle with a Ukrainian airforce helmet to reinforce his point.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle was presented with the helmet of one of the most successful Ukrainian pilots


Western leaders have argued that training on the aircraft would take too long. It would also be some of the most sophisticated hardware provided for Ukraine, raising the stakes between Russia and the West.

It is understood the F-16s may not necessarily come from the US.

The move is part of a long-term effort to strengthen Ukraine's security, the White House official said.

"Discussions about improving the Ukrainian Air Force reflect our long-term commitment to Ukraine's self-defence," the senior Biden administration official added.

Mr Biden said in an interview with ABC News in February that US military advice showed Ukraine did not need F-16s at the time.

"I'm ruling it out for now," he said.

However, Mr Biden informed G7 leaders on Friday that the US will support efforts to train Ukrainian pilots how to fly F-16s.

The effort to train Ukrainian pilots on the jets could start in the coming weeks, the official said.

The training will "take place outside Ukraine at sites in Europe and will require months to complete", the official added.

Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte said: "Together with my British, Danish and Belgian colleagues we welcome the news that the United States stands ready to approve the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighterjets."

Colin Kahl, the Pentagon's top policy official, previously told Congress that training Ukrainian pilots on F-16s could take "about 18 months".

Other US defence officials have said the training could be shortened to only six to nine months based on pilots' previous training and knowledge of fighter aircraft.

Mr Kahl has previously said that it could cost up to $11bn (£9bn) to revitalise Ukraine's military with F-16 jets.

G7 leaders have not announced who would pay to provide Ukraine with the planes.

In March, NBC News reported that two Ukrainian pilots were in the US undergoing an assessment to determine how long it could take to train them to fly attack aircraft, including F-16s.

Washington had also approved bringing up to 10 more Ukrainian pilots to the US for further assessment.

Comments

Oh ya 2 year ago
Russia needs to unload on the NAZIS in Ukraine and end this. Western nations including Russia fought the NAZIS in WWII and now the west is supplying them with arms. The US is using Ukraine as a proxy to fight Russia as it has been said the last thing a failing nation does is take its people to war, and the US is a failing nation. As nations abandon the petro dollar and US reserve world currency it shows the gig is up

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Az orosz-azeri légtér-incidens hatása: Putyin bocsánatot kér Alijevtől
Régi kihívások új megvilágításban: Az embercsempészet tragédiája a La Manche-csatornán
Biden Reportedly Regrets Decision to Step Aside, Claims He Could Defeat Trump
Változások és vészhelyzetek: Egy izgalmas december Norvégiától Budapestig
Budapest erősíti humanitárius szerepét a nemzetközi kötelezettségek fényében
Az Egyesült Államok újabb jelentős katonai segítséget nyújt Ukrajnának
Last minute kickback deal: Biden Races to Deliver $1.25 Billion Military Aid Package to Ukraine Before Leaving Office
The Missteps of 2024: Teams, Coaches, and Players Who Fell Short
Decemberi Fordulatok: A Naphoz Közelebb, Rekord Nyeremények és Egységes Töltők az EU-ban
A NATO fokozza Balti-tengeri jelenlétét a kábelszabotázs gyanúja után
Az Egyesült Államok újabb katonai támogatást ígér Ukrajnának – Budapest számára fontos figyelmeztetés
Navigating the Future of Artificial Intelligence: Promise and Perils
Artificial Superintelligence: Navigating the Future of Intelligence
Baleset óriási nemzetközi következményekkel: Az azerbajdzsáni légitársaság repülőgépét esetlegesen orosz légvédelmi rendszer lőtte le
Mozambik válság árnyékában: börtönlázadás és politikai feszültségek fokozódása
Építészeti és építőipari tanulságok: A törökországi földrengés tragédiája
A kazahsztáni repülőgép-baleset túlélői és Budapest kapcsolatai
Új utak a gazdasági és politikai kihívások közepette: Magyarország és a világ aktuális eseményei
A geopolitikai feszültségek új szakaszába lépett Kelet-Európa és Ázsia
Biztonsági intézkedések megerősítése és közbizalom helyreállítása Németországban
Katar figyelmeztetése: gázszállítási szankciók árnyéka Európa felett
Új lehetőségek Budapest számára az energiapiaci átalakulás közepette
In Magdeburg, Germany, authorities apprehend a man for stating, "I am a Christian."
Muslims vandalize Christmas tree in Germany
Fake North African asylum seeker in Spain beats women just for fun, then runs away
European Leaders Revive Agreed Over Greater Defense Spending
Growing Strains in Germany After Magdeburg Christmas Market Incident
Elon Musk's AfD Endorsement Ignites Controversy from neo-Nazis who accuse the AfD of being what they themselves are
Chinese startup AGIBOT has started large-scale manufacturing of versatile humanoid robots.
EU Orders Apple to Open Up: A Bold Move Against Corporate Monopolies
Trump Recognizes Some Advancement in Ceasefire Initiatives for Ukraine Conflict
Tragic Loss in the Montserrat Mountains: Mango Founder Isak Andic Passes Away in Hiking Accident
Hungary's Balancing Act: Boosting Influence While Managing Economic Stability and Political Controversies
Failing the Test of Leadership: Netanyahu's Security Missteps
Pope Francis' Call for Compassion: Balancing Humanitarian Needs with Socio-Economic Realities
Pozitív Fordulatok és Új Lehetőségek: Oktatás, Gasztronómia és Sport Magyarországon
Magyarország szerepe az uniós szankciók kérdésében: Az energetikai stabilitás és az EU egységének egyensúlya
Romanian Authorities Thwart Armed Mercenary Plot, Drawing Parallels to U.S. Capitol Riot
Strategic Explosions: The Volatile Intersection of Guerrilla Tactics and Geopolitics in Ukraine
Austria's Dilemma: Repatriation of Syrian Refugees Amidst Fragile Peace
The Rising Tide of Aridity: Unmasking a Global Threat
Polarization: The Word That Unites a Divided Era
The TikTok Conundrum: A Battle for Free Speech and Innovation
A Test of Balance: Self-Defense and Judicial Equity in Germany
The Compass of Time: Unraveling the 2024 Person of the Year
Swift's Epoch: Revolutionizing Concert History with the Eras Tour
Storm Darragh Ravages the UK: A Pre-Christmas Tempest of Destruction
Enduring Peace or Strategic Uncertainty: Zelensky's Bold Plea Amidst Ukraine's Woes
Notre-Dame Rises Again: A Symbol of Resilience Amidst Turbulent Times
UAE Invests in Quantum Leap: A Bold Move Towards a Trillion-Dollar Future
×