US President Joe Biden on May 19 approved a plan to train Ukrainian pilots to use US-made F-16 fighter jets, which is considered a prerequisite for sending these advanced aircraft to Ukraine.
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| Russia-Ukraine conflict: US supports plan to train Ukrainian pilots to use F-16 fighter jets. (Source: AP) |
This view was expressed at a discussion by leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrialized countries on plans for tougher sanctions against Moscow over its special military campaign in Ukraine.
G7 leaders met in Hiroshima, Japan, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will also be present on May 21, marking his longest trip since the conflict with Russia broke out last February.
At the G7 Summit, leaders of the group heard for the first time the US President's support for the plan to train Ukrainian pilots to use F-16 fighter jets, considering this a premise to send these advanced aircraft to Ukraine.
Accordingly, the time and method of transferring F-16 fighter jets manufactured by Lockheed Martin will be announced in the coming months, when the training process is underway. The training is expected to be conducted in Europe.
* On May 19, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on countries participating in the Arab League (AL) Summit to support his peace initiative to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
In his speech at the conference, President Zelensky, who is on his first official visit to Saudi Arabia, said that conference delegates would receive the text of a 10-point peace plan and asked them to work with Ukraine.
* Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said on May 19 that Russia can only negotiate with the US regarding the Ukraine issue , to discuss the conditions of a post-conflict world order, but affirmed that it is too early to dialogue on this issue.
Posting on Telegram , Mr. Medvedev emphasized: "We can only talk to the 'bosses'. Or rather, only to Washington. There are simply no other interlocutors. And only discuss the conditions of the post-war world order. Although it is too early to talk about this. Therefore, there is no need for negotiations at the moment."
Earlier in the day, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said any peace initiative aimed at facilitating equal negotiations between Russia and Ukraine should be rejected.
* On May 19, the Polish Foreign Ministry announced that Warsaw hopes China will put pressure on Russia to end the conflict in Ukraine.
The statement was made after a meeting between Polish Deputy Foreign Minister and Chinese Special Envoy for Eurasian Affairs Li Hui.
Previously, on May 18, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that Special Envoy Li Hui had made clear Beijing's position on the crisis in Ukraine during his visit to Kiev on May 16-17.
The statement said: "Mr. Li Hui stated China's position on the political solution to the crisis in Ukraine." It is known that the Chinese Special Envoy had separate meetings with the host country's Chief of Staff Andrey Yermak and Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba.
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