Ukraine WILL get ‘game-changing’ F-16s after Joe Biden gives green light for European allies to send the fighter jets to aid in the battle against Russia

The Biden administration will sign off the delivery of ‘game changing’ fighter jets to Ukraine from some of its European allies to use against Vladimir Putin’s forces

The F-16 jets are at the top of Ukraine’s wish list of weapons to fight Russia
Kyiv is preparing to launch a counteroffensive against Putin’s invading forces

Joe Biden has approved plans to train Ukrainian pilots on US-made F-16 jets, in a move that could tilt the balance in the war with Russia.

The G7 is meeting in Hiroshima, Japan, where president Volodymyr Zelensky will address leaders in person on Sunday, in his furthest trip from his country since the war began in February last year.

The F-16 training will be conducted using European-owned but US-made F-16s and will probably begin in the coming weeks.

So far, Ukraine has been relying on much older MiG fighters, 27 of which have been given to them by Poland and Slovakia. Only a few European countries have a supply of F-16s, including the Netherlands which has 40 and Denmark which has 30, in addition to Poland and Norway.

The White House has come under increasing pressure to help Ukraine procure the US-made F-16, which are in the arsenals of a number of European countries.

Joe Biden (C) has approved plans to train Ukrainian pilots on US-made F-16 jets, in a move that could tilt the balance in the war with Russia

However, any country would require the United States to sign off the transfer of F-16s to Ukraine on account sensitive US technology being on-board the jets.

President Biden told G7 leaders that decisions on when, how many, and who will provide the fourth-generation fighter jets to use in battle will be made in the months ahead, rather than imminently.

Mr Biden is opposed to sending US jets directly to Ukraine amid concern it could trigger retaliatory action from Russia.

The White House is coming under increasing pressure to help Ukraine procure the US-made F-16, which are in the arsenals of a number of European countries. Pictured: President Joe Biden arrives for a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, in Hiroshima, Japan, Thursday, May 18, 2023, ahead of the start of the G7 Summit