Canada to help train Ukrainians on F-16 fighter jets due to be flying by summer

Canada will thief lead nan training of Ukrainian combatant pitchy pilots connected F-16s being delivered by NATO allies, which nan U.S. expects will beryllium flying by nan summer.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says nan national authorities will perpetrate up to $389 cardinal complete nan coming twelvemonth to “enhance” nan training, on pinch $500 cardinal successful further subject assistance arsenic portion of NATO’s semipermanent promise for Ukraine.

“The connection is clear: we’re each present to support Ukraine until triumph and beyond,” Trudeau told reporters successful Washington connected Thursday arsenic NATO leaders wrapped up their yearly summit.

Trudeau said astir caller support for Ukraine while laying retired a timeline for when Canada will yet scope NATO’s target of spending astatine slightest 2 per cent of GDP connected defence.

The premier curate met pinch Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy connected Wednesday, wherever he pledged Canada’s ongoing support and unveiled nan caller assistance commitments.

Zelenskyy said successful a societal media station connected X nan 2 discussed “the anticipation of further training connected Canadian formation simulators.”

Trudeau was owed to participate successful a larger gathering connected Ukraine later connected Thursday, which will travel a bilateral gathering betwixt Zelenskyy and U.S. President Joe Biden.

Ukraine was a apical interest astatine nan acme for nan alliance, which has been supporting Kyiv successful its conflict against Russia’s full-scale penetration since it began astir two-and-a-half years ago.

While friends person stepped up their subject assistance during that time, Ukraine went into nan acme seeking further commitments connected aerial defence and F-16 combatant jets that Zelenskyy says are desperately needed to antagonistic Russia’s rocket barrages and aerial strikes.

The stakes of nan warfare were underscored earlier this week arsenic nan acme opened, when Russian missiles killed astatine slightest 41 people and struck a children’s infirmary successful Kyiv, according to Ukrainian officials.

On Wednesday, NATO agreed they will perpetrate to providing astatine slightest 40 cardinal Euros to Ukraine complete nan coming year.

Additionally, nan U.S., nan Netherlands and Denmark announced nan first NATO-provided F-16s were connected their measurement and would beryllium flying this summertime pursuing months of preparation.

F-16s person been connected Ukraine’s wish database for a agelong clip because of their destructive powerfulness and world availability. The combatant pitchy is equipped pinch a 20mm cannon and tin transportation bombs, rockets and missiles.

Denmark has committed to donate 19 jets successful total, while nan Netherlands has promised to present 24 aircraft. Both countries person been driving forces down an world conjugation to proviso Ukraine pinch F-16s.

Canada has provided civilian instructors and support unit to nan Ukrainian aviator training effort. In February nan authorities contributed $60 cardinal to an allied inaugural to root F-16 supplies and spare parts for early repairs, arsenic good arsenic ammunition and weapons stations.

Trending Now

On Tuesday, done a associated statement, nan U.S., Germany and Romania said they would supply Ukraine pinch Patriot batteries, while nan Netherlands and others will supply Patriot components to dress up 1 much artillery and Italy will supply a SAMP-T aerial defence system.

Biden is expected to denote a caller US$225 cardinal assistance package for Ukraine, including an further Patriot rocket system, connected Thursday.

Other allies, including Canada, Norway, Spain and nan United Kingdom, will supply a number of different systems that will thief Ukraine grow its coverage, Tuesday’s associated connection said. Those systems see NASAMS, HAWKs, IRIS T-SLM, IRIS T-SLS and Gepards. And different nations person agreed to supply munitions for those systems.

Asked astir Canada’s circumstantial aerial defence contributions, a defence section spokesperson pointed Global News to a number of past announcements, including nan astir $500-billion acquisition of a NASAMS from nan United States that was first announced successful January 2023. The strategy is still being produced successful nan U.S. and location is nary patient timeline connected erstwhile it will beryllium delivered to Ukraine.

Canada has besides committed $76 cardinal to a German-led fund for further aerial defence systems, arsenic good arsenic $33 cardinal to a British-led aerial defence instrumentality partnership.

Ottawa has provided complete $4 cardinal successful subject assistance to Ukraine since nan warfare pinch Russia began.

NATO’s associated declaration released Wednesday besides said Ukraine is connected an “irreversible” way to NATO membership, but did not perpetrate to a timeline for Ukraine to officially subordinate nan alliance.

“Ukraine’s early is successful NATO,” according to nan communique.

The confederation welcomed Ukraine’s democratic, economical and information reforms needed to subordinate and said it would get an invitation “when Allies work together and conditions are met.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin has agelong bitterly opposed Ukraine’s conflict to subordinate nan Western alliance, declaring it an encroachment connected Russia’s information and interests.

The U.S. and immoderate different countries person opposed rank for Ukraine during nan conflict pinch Russia to debar an escalation of tensions that could lead to a larger war. They besides person stressed that Ukraine must return important steps to reside corruption arsenic good arsenic different systemic reforms.