Decision to send F-16s to Ukraine will come after pilots' training – NATO Secretary General

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters before a meeting of the EU defense ministers in Brussels on Tuesday, according to European Pravda.

The NATO Secretary General noted that the decision to train Ukrainian pilots makes it possible to also decide later on the delivery of F-16s, which the member states of the 'fighter jet coalition' must decide separately.

“This is an important step that will partially allow us to provide (Ukraine - ed.) with fighter jets at some point, but it also sends a very clear signal that our support will be long-term and Russia will not be able to 'wait it out'” he emphasized.

Stoltenberg reminded that Ukraine has the right to self-defense against full-scale Russian aggression, and NATO is helping it in this.

“It is our right to help them (Ukrainians - ed.) defend UN law, international law against aggressive war. This does not make NATO and its members a party to the conflict. But we support Ukraine in its defense against an aggressive war, Putin's brutal invasion,” the Secretary General summarized.

Last week, the United Kingdom announced the launch of an international coalition of countries aimed at training Ukrainian pilots on fourth-generation fighter jets, including the F-16. The coalition already includes the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, the United States and Portugal.

• On May 21, US President Joe Biden approved Ukrainian training on F-16s. Volodymyr Zelenskyy assures that Ukraine will not use these aircraft to strike at Russian territory.

• Ukraine hopes to receive the first modern American F-16 fighters in the fall of 2023.

• The Pentagon said that the transfer of F-16s to Ukraine could take several months.