The high representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrellwas shown this Tuesday satisfied That the training of Ukrainian pilots in the handling of combat aircraft F16 “has started” in different countries.
“I am happy that the training of pilots for the F16 has finally started in several countries,” Borrell told the press upon arrival at a Council of Defense Ministers of the EU.
The Spanish politician affirmed that this formation “It will take time” but stressed that the sooner it starts, “the better”, since “opens the door to the provision of fighters”.
In Borrell’s opinion, the delivery of a new type of weapon to Ukraine to defend itself against the Russian invasion creates “reluctance” at first among Kiev’s allies, although it has finally been overcome, as in the case of tanks. leopard.
“In the end, the decision comes to provide this military support because it is absolutely necessary for Ukraine to continue to defend itself,” he said.
According to Borrell, the training of Ukrainian pilots has begun in “several countries”, such as “for example in Poland”.
The Dutch Minister of Defence, Kajsa Ollongrenaffirmed upon arrival at the meeting that they have been working on a specific deadline to start the training and considered that “it is important to do it as soon as possible” now that the United States has given the green light for training in the handling of these aircraft , made in the USA.
Ollongren assured that it is a “coordinated effort” of the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, the United Kingdom and other allies.
“We will speed up now that we know we have the green light for preparations,” he said.
Another issue ministers will address today will be the rate at which member states are delivering to Ukraine the munitions it has requested, especially artillery.
With regard to the delivery of stocks in the arsenals of European countries and the plans to place joint orders with the industry and replenish them quickly, Borrell assured that both paths “are on the right track.”
The ministers will also review the situation of the European Peace Support Fund (FEAP), whose next tranche of €500 million (539 million dollars) to co-finance arms for Ukraine veto Hungary.
Budapest says it will block it until kyiv removes the Magyar bank from its list of companies it considers to be promoting the war OTPthe largest in the country.
In any case, Borrell was confident that they would reach a consensus to unblock the situation: “We will resolve it, we cannot block aid to Ukraine,” he commented.
For the moment, the €3.6 billion of the FEAP dedicated to Ukraine have acted as a lever to mobilize a total of 10,000 million euros (10,788 million dollars) of military support from EU countries, which is “much more than expected.”
“This military support has to continue,” he asserted.
On the other hand, today the board of directors of the European Defense Agency (EDA) at the level of the European Defense Ministers, who will welcome Denmark as a new member.
Borrell also pointed out that they are examining eleven new joint military projects within the framework of permanent structured cooperation (PESCO), the instrument that allows Member States that so wish to collaborate in the field of security more ambitious.
(With information from EFE)
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Source-www.infobae.com