WASHINGTON, Aug 11 US ready to train Ukrainian pilots to fly fighter jets F-16s on its territory if the capabilities of Kiev's European allies are exhausted, said John Kirby, White House strategic communications coordinator.
«Our European allies are leading the effort (to train Ukrainian pilots — ed.), but if the resources for training in Europe are reached, then we will definitely be able to train Ukrainian pilots in the United States,» he told reporters at a briefing.
Kirby added that F-16 fighter jets are seen by the US as a long-term tool to support Kyiv, Washington is working with allies in Europe to start training Ukrainians.
On Friday, the Washington Post, citing senior Ukrainian officials and the military, reported that the first group of six Ukrainian pilots would complete training on US F-16 fighters no earlier than next summer. According to the newspaper, the pilots will begin training on fighters only in January, the preparation will take six months. The second group of Ukrainian pilots, as the newspaper notes, will be trained only by the end of next year.
Vladimir Zelensky announced on August 2 that the training of Ukrainian pilots would begin this month. According to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, the training program will take at least six months and may take place in Denmark or the Netherlands.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that the United States and its NATO satellites create risks of a direct armed clash with Russia, this is fraught with catastrophic consequences. According to him, the fact that Kiev has F-16 fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons will be considered by Russia as a threat from the West in the nuclear sphere.
Earlier, Russia sent a note to NATO countries over arms supplies to Ukraine. Lavrov noted that any cargo that contains weapons for Ukraine would become a legitimate target for Russia. He pointed out that the United States and NATO are directly involved in the conflict in Ukraine, including not only the supply of weapons, but also the training of personnel in the UK, Germany, Italy and other countries. Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov noted that pumping Ukraine with weapons from the West does not contribute to the success of Russian-Ukrainian negotiations and will have a negative effect.