2023-05-19 18:39:00
American fighter planes were ardently demanded by kyiv. The American president on Friday gave the green light to the delivery of these F-16s by the West.
By NJ with AFP
© HARALD TITTEL / DPA / dpa Picture Alliance via AFP
Published on
Lhe question is no longer “if”, but “when”. Friday, May 19, Joe Biden announced that he will give the green light to the delivery, by Westerners, of combat aircraft to Ukraine, including the American F-16s. During the G7, organized in Japan, he assured his interlocutors of his “support for a joint initiative aimed at training Ukrainian pilots on fourth-generation combat aircraft, including F-16s”, says a senior official from the White House.
With this decision, the American president is orchestrating the Western response to Russia. He was facing mounting pressure to allow US F-16 fighters to be sent to Ukraine, not by the United States itself, but by other countries that have them. The delivery of these planes, ardently demanded by kyiv, by third countries is, in fact, subject to the prior approval of Washington.
An international coalition wanted by London
“As the training unfolds over the next few months, our coalition of nations participating in this effort will decide when to provide aircraft, how many, and who will provide them,” the official continued. “The training will take place outside Ukraine at sites in Europe and will last for months,” he said, saying “hopefully this training will start in the next few weeks.”
On Tuesday, the United Kingdom had pleaded for an “international coalition” intended to provide these combat planes to the Ukrainian army.
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