The first group of Ukrainian pilots have completed a basic training program in the United Kingdom to fly US-made F-16 fighter jets, the UK defense ministry said on Tuesday.
The Netherlands and Denmark were the first to agree to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets. The White House confirmed that Ukraine would receive fighter jets from third countries after the training of its pilots is completed.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Wednesday on his way to Kiev to thank the country for donating F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, the State Department said.
Supplies of F-16 fighter jets to Kiev pose a threat both to Ukraine and humanity, and it would be more sensible to start peace talks on the Ukraine conflict instead, US presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said on Sunday.
Last week, the Biden administration took another step up the escalation ladder in the NATO-Russia proxy war in Ukraine, announcing plans to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets at undisclosed locations in Europe. Moscow slammed the move, and warned that it will take these steps “into account” in its military strategy.