U.S. Will Support F-16 Training for Ukraine
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President Biden told the leaders of America’s closest democratic allies that he would support an international effort to train Ukrainian pilots in flying advanced fighters, including the F-16 jets that President Volodymyr Zelensky has pressed for to counter Russia’s superior air force, several U.S. officials said Friday.
The officials, who were granted anonymity to speak candidly about sensitive deliberations with allies, said the United States would discuss in the coming months how to supply Kyiv with the jets themselves. Some European countries have the F-16s and have said they would like to provide them to Ukraine.
Mr. Biden’s decision came amid a day of discussions among the leaders of the G7 nations about how to prepare Ukraine to deter Russian aggression for years to come. Mr. Biden had resisted calls for months to provide the F-16s, saying they weren’t immediately necessary. But he was also concerned that they could be used to hit targets deep inside Russia, and thus potentially escalate the conflict.
It was the latest case of Mr. Biden’s reversing course after being reluctant to provide Ukraine with a major weapons system; the United States was hesitant about providing Ukraine with sophisticated tanks, but promised them after European pressure. The latest change in stance came just hours before Mr. Zelensky is expected in Hiroshima, his first trip to Asia since the war broke out 15 months ago.
The training will take place in Europe, according to one senior administration official, who added that it will take months until Ukrainian pilots are airworthy on the American-designed fighters.
But it is unclear who will actually provide Ukraine the jets. The senior administration official said that the countries participating in the training would “collectively determine in coming months” how to provide the F-16s, or similar advanced fighters produced by other NATO countries, to Kyiv.
That left open the possibility that the United States would not give the jets to Ukraine directly, spreading the burden of the expensive craft to other Western partners. But by granting the necessary approval to nations who have previously purchased them from the U.S. to send them along to Kyiv, he is effectively giving the green light.
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, who is in Japan with Mr. Biden, was a driving force behind the decision. Officials say that Mr. Blinken, who has led the diplomacy to assemble and maintain that coalition, considers it essential to maintain a unified front against Russia, and he worked both in Washington and with allies to help Mr. Biden reach his decision.
— Michael Crowley and David E. Sanger Mr. Crowley reported from Washington and Mr. Sanger from Hiroshima, Japan.
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