Former Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO, Philip Breedlove, believes that the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets is being delayed because some countries are afraid of provoking Russia.
Breedlove expressed this opinion in a comment to Voice of America.
According to the retired American general, many countries are already prepared to begin training Ukrainians on the F-16 – preliminary plans have been developed. However, the "main slowdown of this process happens inside" the United States. He added that in the matter of providing Ukraine with fighter jets, Russia's policy of intimidation towards the West has proven to be effective.
"Putin's ground forces are his pawn on the board. But Putin's intimidation war, his war of restraining the West, has been wildly successful. And this is what he (Putin) is persistently working on. This intimidation has led to restraint and has slowed down things like sending the F-16s," added the former NATO commander in Europe.
In mid-July, 11 partner countries, along with Ukraine, signed a memorandum defining the terms for training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets.
The training is supposed to begin in August, but according to media reports, the final training plan has not yet been approved by the United States, as European states have not agreed on all its details.
"There is restraint towards quick actions due to fears that Mr. Putin can cause certain important events. As I've said many times, the situation with the F-16 is precisely that case," believes Breedlove.
Moreover, experts believe that F-16s could fundamentally alter the course of the war in Ukraine.
