US to support pilot training for fighter jets in Ukraine

As Ukraine is ready to launch a strong counteroffensive, the US has informed its allies that it will fund an international initiative to train Ukrainian pilots to fly the F-16 and other cutting-edge fighter jets.

A senior administration official said that Joe Biden has already informed other leaders attending the G7 summit in Japan of his decision. The official added that the plan would include training "on fourth-generation fighter aircraft, including F-16s, to further strengthen and improve the capabilities of the Ukrainian air force".

Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the president of Ukraine, tweeted: "I welcome the historic decision of the United States and @POTUS to back a worldwide coalition of fighter jets. This will significantly strengthen our force in the skies. I anticipate debating this decision's actual execution at the G7 conference in Hiroshima.

I welcome the historic decision of the United States and @POTUS to support an international fighter jet coalition. This will greatly enhance our army in the sky. I count on discussing the practical implementation of this decision at the #G7 summit in Hiroshima.

— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 19, 2023

Some allies were surprised by the U-turn's rapidity.  Even close friends did not anticipate Biden to endorse direct US involvement in a training program, despite indications that the US would give the go-ahead for other countries to begin making preparations to supply western fighter jets.