Ukraine inching closer to F-16s
Recently, Josep Borrell, the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, referred to the current progress in the coalition of F-16 fighter jets destined for Ukraine.
"This is a positive thing coming out of the G7. They have finally decided to prepare the ground to provide Ukraine with the aircraft it needs. The training of the aircraft has already started and I hope that we will soon be able to provide such weapons to Ukraine."
Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said the training is already being planned. The Netherlands, Denmark and several other nations are also planning to begin training.
As the Associated Press reports, moments before meeting with the EU secretaries, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the decision to begin training was the impetus needed to make fighter jets available to Ukraine.
"Clearly announcing that they are going to start training is an important step that will, in part, allow us to deliver fighter jets at some point". He also believes that this decision showed that the West would not surrender to Russia. "It sends a very clear signal that we are there for the long haul and that Russia cannot expect us to do nothing," Stoltenberg explained.
A day later, Borrell commented at the press conference ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council that military support must continue. "I am happy that pilot training for F-16s has finally started in several countries. It will take time, but the sooner the better. The door is open for the provision of the aircraft," said the head of European diplomacy.
Pilot training will take months to complete and the time when countries will finally be ready to send the combat vehicles is not yet too close. Nevertheless, the imminent start of training ensures that by the time the aircraft begin to be dispatched, pilots will already have the necessary skills to operate them and no more time will be lost.
The senior representative also spoke about the debate that arose when the issue of sending battle tanks was first raised. "At first everyone was reluctant, but in the end with the Leopard 2 and the F-16 the decision is to provide this military support because it is absolutely necessary for Ukraine to continue to defend itself," Borrell said.
During the Defence Council, the Spanish diplomat pointed out that the coming days, weeks and months are going to be strategically decisive for the war in Ukraine. "For this reason, the Council has focused 90% on our military support for Ukraine. The NATO Secretary General was also present, with whom we shared the analysis of the military situation in this war," he said. Borrell also stressed the willingness shown by all defence ministers to continue to support Ukraine.
According to the Kyiv Independent, several countries have already declared their support for the international coalition to provide F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, agreed by the UK and the Netherlands on 17 May. These include the United States, Portugal and Denmark.
This decision has increased tensions with Russia, especially given the strong support of US President Joe Biden. "We see that Western countries continue to adhere to the escalation scenario. This implies colossal risks for themselves. In any case, this will be taken into account in all our plans, and we have all the means necessary to achieve the goals we have set ourselves," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko was quoted as saying by the state news agency TASS.