– It is absolutely right to start pilot training. The war drags on. We must prepare for it to last a long time. It sends a signal that NATO countries will support Ukraine for a long time, says Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, to news. Biden has been clear that the US does not want to send F-16 aircraft to Ukraine. In February, he said in an interview with ABC News that Ukraine does not need fighter jets. But last week he turned around. Then he opened up for the G7 countries to give the American-made fighter jet to Ukraine, in addition to promising training for Ukrainian pilots. This is the fighter jet Ukraine wants. Photo: AP The training has already started in several countries, including in Poland, says the EU’s head of foreign affairs, Josep Borrell. In addition, Denmark has said that they will start training Ukrainian pilots. It has not yet been confirmed which country will provide flights. Uncertain when Ukraine will get fighter jets There is tension about who will give fighter jets to Ukraine, and to what extent. Norway has 57 F-16 aircraft. 32 of them have been sold to Romania and 12 to the USA. It is unknown what will happen to the rest. – When it is right to send fighter jets, it is too early to say anything about, says Stoltenberg. He refers to the development, when it started with sending lighter equipment and weapons, for artillery and anti-aircraft, and now heavy vehicles. – There has been a development that reflects that the war has developed, and therefore the type of support has also developed over time, he says. According to Stoltenberg, the reason why one now wants to give is that one sees that military support leads to Ukraine being able to liberate more areas. In good and bad days Next week there is a NATO meeting in Oslo, with all the foreign ministers present. Among other things, further support for Ukraine will be discussed. Stoltenberg is clear that it is still important to help Ukraine with military support: – We support them when things are going well on the battlefield, but also when things are going badly. Our political responsibility is to be there in good and bad days for the Ukrainians, he says. Ukraine into NATO NATO membership is also high on the agenda at the meeting next week. – The important thing is to ensure that Ukraine survives as an independent and democratic nation in Europe. If we do not succeed with that, there is no membership to discuss, says Stoltenberg to news. Ukraine has long expressed a desire to join the defense alliance. The goal is for Ukraine to eventually join NATO. Photo: DIMITAR DILKOFF / AFP – This is a joint decision in NATO. I think that if the decision on membership depended on Stoltenberg alone, Ukraine would be in NATO, Zelenskyj told news in April. Stoltenberg has received criticism for having expressed a desire to get Ukraine into the alliance from the EU’s foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell. When asked about this, Stoltenberg replies: – All NATO countries believe that the door is open for new members, and all NATO countries have said that Ukraine will become a member of NATO. The discussion is about the way there. Hear also:
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