Austin: USA supports training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 on its territory

WASHINGTON, September 19 – RIA Novosti. Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin said that the United States supports the training of Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets through training on its own soil.

“The United States is complementing its F-16 training coalition with training on its territory,” Austin said as he opened the next meeting of the contact group on Ukraine in Germany.

US National Guard Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Michael Law said that the US could complete the training of the first Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets by the end of the year, but it would take more time for the pilots to start combat missions. , I have said before. He said that from now on, Ukrainian pilots will return to Europe to receive additional training in aircraft maintenance within NATO.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that US and NATO satellites create a risk of direct armed conflict with the Russian Federation, which is fraught with disastrous consequences. According to him, Kiev’s possession of F-16 warplanes capable of carrying nuclear weapons will be considered by Russia as a threat from the West in the nuclear field.

Russia had previously sent a note to NATO countries regarding the supply of weapons to Ukraine. Lavrov noted that any cargo containing weapons to Ukraine would become a legitimate target for Russia. He emphasized that the United States and NATO are directly involved in the conflict in Ukraine, not only by supplying weapons but also by training personnel in the UK, Germany, Italy and other countries.