USA to expedite F-16 training for Ukrainian pilots.
Title: Sullivan Discusses Russian Private Security Company Wagner and F-16 Training for Ukraine
At the ongoing Aspen Security Forum in Colorado, US national security advisor Jake Sullivan addressed various topics including the Russia-Ukraine War and foreign policy. One notable discussion revolved around Yevgeniy Prigojin, the founder of the Russian private security company Wagner.
Sullivan defended the notion that Prigojin revolted due to his dissatisfaction with the course of the war in Ukraine. He expressed that if Russian President Vladimir Putin had succeeded in Ukraine, Prigojin would not have attempted such a revolt. However, Sullivan emphasized that the Wagner group is currently not fighting in Ukraine, with some of its members stationed in Belarus and other undisclosed locations.
The absence of the Wagner group, which is active in Ukraine, may have consequences for Russia, according to Sullivan. He stated that it is challenging to predict what will happen in the coming months regarding this matter.
In terms of support for Ukraine, Sullivan mentioned efforts to assist the country in effectively utilizing F-16 warplanes and acquiring necessary skills. He disclosed ongoing collaboration with allies to train Ukrainian pilots and resolve any technical issues. While Sullivan couldn’t provide an exact start date for the training, he assured that it would commence within weeks, not months.
Sullivan also touched upon the discussion between US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenkiy regarding land-to-ground ATACMS missiles. The decision to provide these missiles to Ukraine lies with President Biden, Sullivan confirmed.
Addressing a different matter, Sullivan responded to a question about the whereabouts of Chinese Foreign Minister China Gang, who has been missing for an extended period. He stated that he had no information regarding this situation. Sullivan mentioned that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had planned to meet with the Chinese Foreign Minister at the recent ASEAN conference in Indonesia but ended up meeting with Vang Yi, Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission Office of the Communist Party of China, instead.
While there are no further details available, Sullivan’s remarks suggest that the situation surrounding the Chinese Foreign Minister remains unknown.
