President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky flew to Japanese Hiroshima, where the G7 summit will be held. Zelensky was delivered to Japan by a French government plane. On it, the President of Ukraine flew in from Saudi Arabia, where he spoke to members of the League of Arab States.
“Japan. G7. Important meetings with partners and friends of Ukraine. Security and strengthening of cooperation for our victory. Today the world will get closer,” Zelensky wrote in a telegram.
Yesterday, the head of the office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, said that Zelensky was scheduled to meet in Japan with US President Joe Biden to discuss the issue of deliveries of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.
Earlier, CNN and the Associated Press, citing sources close to the US presidential administration, reported that Joe Biden, at a meeting with G7 leaders, said that Washington would support the efforts of the allies to train Ukrainian pilots on American F-16 fighters.
According to publications, the training of Ukrainian pilots will most likely take place in Europe and will likely begin in the coming weeks. At the same time, American specialists will participate in training together with allies and partners.
Biden, according to publications, also told the G7 leaders that the decision on who, when and how much to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets will be made in the coming months, while pilots are being trained.
The supply of American-made F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine requires the consent of the US government. Until now, the White House has formally refused to provide Kyiv with this type of weapons, citing the difficulties associated with the training of pilots, maintenance of aircraft, as well as their insufficient protection from Russian air defense systems. However, in March, CNN reported that the US military was trying to estimate how long it would take Ukrainian pilots to fly the F-16.
In addition, Reuters and Politico sources claim that in Hiroshima, the US president will announce a new $375 million military aid package for Ukraine, which will include artillery shells, armored vehicles and anti-tank weapons.
