The meeting of the multinational group created by the West to coordinate the supply of weapons to Ukraine was held in a virtual formatWASHINGTON, May 25.
/tass/. Denmark and the Netherlands will lead the European coalition to train Ukrainian pilots for the use of F-16 fighters. This was stated on Thursday by Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin at a press conference following the results of the next meeting of the multinational group created by the West to coordinate arms supplies to Ukraine. The meeting of this body was held in a virtual format.
"At today's meeting, several allies and partners also discussed plans to train Ukrainian pilots for the use of fourth-generation fighter jets, including the F-16," he said. - Planning and implementation of this training will be a serious task, but coordination of this contact group will help to fulfill it. And I want to express my special gratitude to Denmark and the Netherlands, who decided to lead the European coalition to prepare Ukrainian forces for the use of the F-16."
"In the coming days, my colleagues from Denmark and the Netherlands will work with the United States and other allies to develop a training plan. Norway, Belgium, Portugal and Poland have already offered to contribute to the preparation. And we expect that other countries will also join this important initiative soon," Austin added. "The start of work on preparing for the use of the F-16 is an example of a long-term commitment to the security of Ukraine."
On May 21, US President Joe Biden announced at a press conference following the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima that the West would begin training Ukrainian pilots in the skills of controlling fourth-generation fighter jets, including the F-16. At the same time, Assistant to the US President for National Security Jake Sullivan said that Washington will discuss with like-minded people in the coming months which states will transfer F-16 aircraft to Kiev.
