According to newspaper reports, Kiev hopes to receive up to 50 F-16 fighter jets from Western allies Policy Referring to the adviser of the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Yuriy Sak.
“Ukraine wants a total of 40 to 50 F-16s to form three or four squadrons to protect the skies,” the consultant said.
According to him, the country now has “nothing to stop” Russian planes dropping glider bombs that hit targets at long distances.
“We understand that our air defense will not be complete without F-16 warplanes,” he said.
In this context, the advisor said that President Volodymyr Zelensky wanted the issue of warplanes to be the focus of attention at the G7 summit in Hiroshima and at the NATO summit in Vilnius in July.
“Everyone understands that the topic is ripe for discussion. Nobody said it was impossible. Compared to what happened three months ago, when we were still fighting for tanks, today everyone is talking about a coalition of fighters – this is a very promising sign, ”said Sak.
According to him, the President of Ukraine received “assurance” from Western heads of state during his last European tour that they would discuss this issue in the near future.
Although Britain, Italy, France and Germany are not yet in a position to offer F-16s to Ukraine, they “have an important say in the international coalition,” according to the adviser. That’s why Ukraine wants them to “encourage” their allies like the United States and Turkey.
“One of the concerns of the Ukrainians is how to protect their airspace from drone attacks, helicopter attacks, Russian warplanes. So it’s totally natural to talk about everything and aviation is part of the conversation,” he said.
“Coalition of Warriors”
At a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, Zelensky said Ukraine is trying to create a “war coalition” that will include countries willing to supply fighter jets to Kiev.
On May 15, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, receiving Zelensky in London, announced plans to form a coalition of countries to supply fighter jets to Kiev and organize training for Ukrainian pilots.
“It’s not just about the aircraft supply, it’s also about pilot training, all the logistical support involved. Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Sunak said that the UK could play an important role in this regard.
He promised to meet this week with leaders of other states on this coalition.
Ukraine’s president has said the country cannot control the skies without warplanes.
“We want to form a jet coalition and I feel very good about it. We talked about it … in the near future, I think you will hear a few very important decisions – but we need to work on it a little more,” Zelensky said.
Education, not material
Since the outbreak of hostilities in February 2022, Kiev has been trying to persuade its allies to supply the Ukrainian armed forces with modern combat aircraft. The West has so far refused to accept this for fear of further military escalation and technical difficulties: the need to build longer runways on Ukrainian soil and train pilots.
The British Prime Minister has publicly supported the idea of supplying fighter jets to Ukraine, although London has said it has no such plans yet. According to Sunak, he will advocate the need to send planes both at the Council of Europe summit in Iceland and in negotiations with world leaders within the G7.
Earlier, the UK authorities announced the start of training for Ukrainian pilots in the summer, and also promised to continue working with other countries on the possible supply of F-16s to Kiev.
French President Emmanuel Macron also announced the start of training for Ukrainian pilots to fly fighter jets.
“We opened the door to fighter pilot training. Training can begin now,” said the President, noting that France is not yet ready to supply fighter jets to Kiev.
“We will not procure weapons that will allow” [Украине] “Hit targets on Russian soil,” Macron said.
John Kirby, strategic communications coordinator for the White House National Security Council, said the United States had not changed its decision not to supply the UAF with F-16 fighter jets. But Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that active diplomacy has brought the country closer to an effective “heavenly closing” and promised more news on the provision of fighter jets to Kiev, adding that “Kiev will take everything”.