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JFC, just send them what they need already. At this point, it looks a lot like the support is just so that we can collect the payments later while extending the war. Thus ensuring Ukraine's continuing need for military support and future debts to be repaid.
They should have been trained on F-16s by a year ago now. You can train before you promise or send something. It's absolutely shameful how poorly we have helped Ukraine in this time of need.
Training should go hand in hand with delivering, otherwise that's just wasting Ukraine's resources.
They don't plan to deliver until after the pilots and other crew are trained.
It’s not that simple. Ukraine is constantly targeted by cruise missile attacks - and while Russia is burning through their supply, these jets would be a priority target to track and destroy. A lot of pieces have to come together to make these jets deliverable and be useful, rather than just missile bait.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
WASHINGTON, Aug 17 (Reuters) - The United States has approved sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine from Denmark and the Netherlands to defend against Russian invaders as soon as pilot training is completed, a U.S. official said on Thursday.
A coalition of 11 countries was due to start training Ukrainian pilots to fly the F-16 fighter jets this month in Denmark.
NATO members Denmark and the Netherlands have been leading international efforts to train pilots as well as support staff, maintain aircraft and ultimately enable Ukraine to obtain F-16s for use in its war with Russia.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken sent letters to his Danish and Dutch counterparts assuring them that the requests would be approved, the U.S. official said.
"I am writing to express the United States’ full support for both the transfer of F-16 fighter aircraft to Ukraine and for the training of Ukrainian pilots by qualified F-16 instructors," Blinken said in a letter to the two officials, a copy of which was seen by Reuters.
Kyiv will not be able to operate U.S.-built F-16 fighter jets this coming autumn and winter, Ukraine air force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat told Ukrainian television late on Wednesday.
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