A representative for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Wednesday that Britain wanted to begin training Ukrainian fighter pilots as soon as possible but had not yet decided whether to provide combat aircraft.
The official told reporters, “We are hoping to receive the first Ukrainian pilots for training in the spring, obviously we want it to start as soon as possible,” adding that no decision had been made regarding the supply of fighter jets.
“To be clear, this is a long-term solution, rather than a short-term capability, which is what Ukraine needs most right now,” the prime minister said in a statement. “The defence secretary has been tasked with exploring what jets we might be able to supply.”