The U.S. national security adviser said the administration will move “as fast as possible” to get F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. A top White House spokesperson said the aircraft would be in Ukrainian skies “towards the end of the year.”
But so far, Western partners have yet to even agree on a plan to train Ukrainian pilots to fly the promised jets, according to three U.S. officials familiar with the discussions. Denmark and the Netherlands are leading a coalition of 11 nations to support the training, but so far no country has publicly committed aircraft to the program.
The scramble by the West comes as Ukraine calls for additional military capabilities to break through Russian defenses on the battlefield. And Ukraine is ramping up pressure on allies to send F-16s again this week, as Russia pulled out of a deal that allowed civilian ships to transport grain through the Black Sea; Ukraine’s foreign minister said Tuesday that the jets could help protect a corridor that is vital to global food security. Läs artikel