The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
F-16 training for Ukraine’ s pilots to begin
Training for Ukrainian pilots on American-made F-16 fighter jets will begin in the coming weeks, US defence secretary Lloyd Austin hopes.
It will bolster Ukraine in the long run but not necessarily as part of an anticipated spring counteroffensive against Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbour last February.
Mr Austin spoke as defence leaders from around the world assembled for a virtual meeting to discuss military support for Ukraine.
They were expected talk about which countries will provide F-16s, and how and where the pilot training will be done.
The officials will also get an update on the war effort from Ukrainian leaders, including preparation for the counteroffensive and how the allies, who have faced their own stockpile pressures, can continue to support Kyiv’s fight.
“We’re going to have to dig deeper and we’re going to have to continue to look for creative ways to boost our industrial capability,” Mr Austin said before the military leaders began their closed session.
“The stakes are high but the cause is just and our will is strong.”
European countries have said they are talking about which countries may have F-16s available.
The US had long balked at providing the advanced aircraft to Ukraine and only last weekend did
President Joe Biden agree to allow other nations to send Us-made jets to Kyiv.
The leaders will also likely discuss Ukraine’s other continuing military needs, including air defence systems and munitions, artillery and other ammunition.
Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign
policy chief, said on Tuesday that training for Ukrainian pilots had begun in Poland and some other countries, though Polish defence minister Mariusz Blaszczak said training was still in the planning phase.
The Netherlands and Denmark, among others, are also making plans for training.
Ukraine has long sought the sophisticated fighter jet to give it a combat edge.
The Biden decision was a sharp reversal, after refusing to approve transfer of the aircraft or conduct training for more than a year because of worries doing so could escalate tensions with Russia.