G7 countries provide jets for joint training.
President Joe Biden recently announced that Ukrainian pilots would begin training to fly F-16 fighter jets. He made the announcement during the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Hiroshima, Japan, where the defense of Ukraine continued to be a pressing topic.
European countries have voiced their willingness to participate in joint training sessions with Ukrainian defense forces, but President Biden has previously been reluctant to approve the use of F-16s for training. The jets are manufactured in and sold by the United States. Though other countries have purchased a number of F-16s for their air forces, they need to receive official approval from the United States to use them for any reason other than their previously specified purposes.
Since President Biden announced his support for the use of F-16s for training Ukrainian forces, Ukraine’s neighbors can transfer their F-16s to begin joint training sessions within a week. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his appreciation for this decision, saying that he “welcomes” this new training initiative.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For President Biden to seek God’s guidance as he offers support to Ukraine.
- For U.S. military leaders as they provide training to Ukrainian pilots.
Sources: Reuters, The Hill
