The Pentagon believes that the training of Ukrainian pilots for F-16s will help Ukraine in the long term

May 24. (EUROPE PRESS) –

The US Department of Defense has indicated that the decision to agree to the training — and eventual transfer — of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by its Western allies “is intended to support defense needs in the medium long term”.

“The F-16s for Ukraine have to do with the long-term commitment to Ukraine. (…) These F-16s will not be relevant for the next counteroffensive,” Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said at a conference press.

For now, Washington has indicated that it will participate with partners and allies in the training of Ukrainian pilots in the use of the planes, without any concrete decision regarding the delivery of the aircraft.

“That training will take place outside of Ukraine, at locations in Europe,” Ryder explained. “But in terms of when that training will start, how will those fighters be provided, who will provide them, we continue to work with our international partners on that front,” she added.

Ryder has stated that “the fight at this time is to ensure that (the Ukrainians) can successfully defend themselves, and at the same time can recover sovereign territory.”

“We look forward to a long-term relationship with Ukraine regarding their security assistance needs and, again, with the idea that they can secure their hard-won gains and deter future aggression by Russia,” the spokesman said.

The Russian Government has warned this Tuesday that the supply of F-16s to the Ukrainian authorities will not be able to alter the course of the war, which began at the end of February 2022. The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergei Ryabkov, has declared that ” (Russia’s) reaction will be a systematic continuation of the implementation of the goals and objectives of the special military operation.”

US President Joe Biden said at the G7 summit in Japan on Friday that Washington supports its allies training Ukrainian pilots to use F-16 fighters. Following this, Ukraine’s main European allies have supported the US idea and have confirmed that they will at least train their pilots. Russia, for its part, already warned over the weekend that the possible delivery of F-16 model fighter jets could carry “colossal risks” for the West.