F-16 jets: new weapons for Kyiv?
Photo: REUTERS/ USAF
The Russian government is responding with not unexpected threats to a possible delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. Western countries would take "colossal risks" if they did so, the TASS news agency quotes Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko as saying.
According to U.S. government circles, U.S. President Joe Biden announced on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima that he would support joint allied training programs for Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets. Experts see this as a first step towards delivering the jets to the Ukrainian armed forces.
It could be months before a possible delivery is made, so the F-16 jets would be too late for the planned Ukrainian counteroffensive. Nevertheless, the training of Ukrainian fighters is seen as a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that Kyiv's support will continue in the medium term.
The commitment to pilot training is a surprising U-turn by the US president. Until a few days ago, he and his people had emphasized that the delivery of F-16 jets was not planned. But some NATO allies, above all the British and the Dutch, were apparently able to change Biden's mind.
Biden and his military are likely to urge Kiev that the planes of Kiev's pilots are not used to attack Russian territory under any circumstances. Otherwise, the war could escalate further.
ssu/Reuters