The Netherlands wants to organize the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets as soon as possible, Dutch Defense Minister Kaisa Ollongren said in a message sent to the country’s parliament on Wednesday.
The training will be coordinated with Belgium, Denmark and the UK, other countries may also participate, Ollongren said.
Recall that on Tuesday NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said that training Ukrainian pilots on Western F-16 fighters would not make NATO a party to the conflict in Russia’s war against Ukraine. .
A day earlier, senior Russian diplomats said the transfer of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine would raise questions about NATO’s role in the conflict.
Last Friday, President Joe Biden approved F-16 training programs for Ukrainian pilots, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy assured Biden that the planes would not be used on Russian soil.
Norwegian Defense Minister Bjorn Arild Gram also said his country would support efforts to train Ukrainian pilots on the F-16.
“The government supports this initiative and is considering how Norway can contribute with allies and partners,” Gram said.
In an interview with public broadcaster NRK, Gram said the Norwegian government has yet to decide whether Norway will supply one of its F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.
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