F-16 for Ukraine: U.S. officially supports the training of Ukrainian pilots

The United States has confirmed its support to join efforts together with other countries in training Ukrainian pilots in F-16 fighters.

This was announced by the adviser to the President of the United States on national security Jake Sullivan.

He recalled that the United States and its allies in recent months have focused on supplying Ukraine with the weapons and equipment needed to conduct effective offensive operations against the Russian occupiers this spring and summer.

“Now that we have delivered everything we promised to Ukrainians to enable them to make progress on the battlefield, we have reached the moment when it is time to look back and say that Ukraine will be needed as part of future forces to deter and defend against Russian aggression. Part of this is the fourth generation F-16 fighters,” Sullivan said.

According to the adviser, the decision of the American president to support the training of Ukrainian pilots at the F-16 demonstrates “a long-term commitment to Ukrainian self-defense.”

A White House spokesman also confirmed that in the following months, the United States, together with other states, will discuss when and in what amount Ukraine will receive modern Western fighters.

Meanwhile, Sullivan did not specify how long the training of Ukrainian military pilots on these combat aircraft will take.

In addition, the American official noted that the F-16 fighters that Ukraine would receive from its allies would not be used for attacks on Russia.

Jake Sullivan stressed that Ukraine agrees with this position of partners and adhered to it when it received long-range Western weapons.

As previously reported, on Friday, U.S. President Joe Biden at the G7 summit in Japan said that the United States would support joint training of Ukrainian pilots in F-16 fighters.

The exercise is expected to take place entirely in Europe, but American personnel will also be involved.

Training of Ukrainian pilots on Western fighters can take several months.