WASHINGTON: In a significant boost for Kyiv, the United States has said it would allow its Western allies to supply Ukraine with advanced fighter jets, including American-made F-16s.
According to the BBC, Jake Sullivan, National Security Adviser, said that President of the United States Joe Biden “informed his G7 counterparts” of the decision at Friday’s bloc’s summit in Japan. Sullivan said United States troops would train Kyiv’s pilots to use the jets.
Ukraine has long sought advanced fighter jets, and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the move as the “historic decision.”
The United States legally has to approve the re-export of equipment purchased by partners, and the move would clear the way for other nations to send their existing stocks of F-16s jets to Ukraine.
“Over the past few months, we and our partners have focussed on providing Ukraine with the weapon and training of the system it needs to conduct offensive operations this spring and summer,” Sullivan told reporters in Hiroshima. “We have delivered what we promised.”
“We’ve turned to discussions about improving and helping the Ukrainian air defence as part of our long-term commitment to Ukraine’s self-defence. As the training unfolds in the future, we would work with our allies to determine when planes would be delivered, who will deliver them, and how many.”
Ukraine has repeatedly lobbied its Western partners to provide jets to help fight against Russian armed forces. Ahead of Saturday’s official announcement, Ukraine President Zelensky said the jets would “greatly enhance our military in the sky,” adding that he looked forward to “discussing the practical implementation” of the plan at the G7 summit in Hiroshima, where he would arrive on Sunday.
The United States had been sceptical about providing Ukraine with advanced fighter jets – at least in the near term. Its focus has instead been on providing army support on land.
Senior United States military officials who have spoken to the BBC in the past were questioned whether Western-supplied fighter jets would dramatically alter the conflict, with the Russian air force still struggling to gain air superiority and the large density of air defence systems on the ground.
