US to support F-16 fighter jets training for Ukrainians: Report

By Rabia Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - President Joe Biden informed his key allies of the United States' support for an international initiative to train Ukrainian pilots for F-16 fighter aircraft amid Kyiv's diplomatic push for the fighter jets ahead of a major counteroffensive, said a report Friday.

According to anonymous US officials cited by The New York Times, discussions will take place in the coming months to determine the method of supplying Kyiv with the fighter jets.

It came after pressure from some European countries while Britain and Netherlands said they were working on an “international coalition” to provide Ukraine with the fighter planes it needs. The US was initially not positive about providing Ukraine with F-16s, saying they were not necessary at the current stage of the conflict.

Meanwhile, leaders of G-7 countries, namely the United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Canada and Italy, met Friday afternoon in the Japanese city of Hiroshima, where the war in Ukraine was one of the main topics of their agenda.

The US officials reportedly told the Times the training process, expected to span several months, will occur in Europe.

The officials said the countries providing the training would “collectively determine in coming months” how to provide F-16s to Ukraine.

Shortly after the reports, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took to Twitter to "welcome the historic decision" of the US and Biden to "support an international fighter jet coalition".

"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 wrote.