The London wants to build an “international coalition” to help her Ukraine to acquire F-16 fighter jetsannounced yesterday Tuesday the Downing Streetafter a meeting with the British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and its Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte.

The two men, who met on the sidelines of the Council of Europe summit in Iceland, “agreed to work to build an international coalition to supply Ukraine with air military capabilities, supporting (…) by training (pilots) until the F-16 delivery,” says a press release from Mr. Sunak’s services.

“Good start for the coalition!”, was the reaction of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his evening televised speech. He added that he “thanks everyone” who means to give fighters to his army.

The summit – only the pan-European body’s fourth in its nearly 75 years of existence – was intended to consider ways to hold Russia criminally responsible for the disasters and crimes following its military invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

Mr. Sunak “repeated his belief that Ukraine belongs to NATO”, it is emphasized in the announcement no. 10 Downing Street, while “leaders agreed that it is important for allies to provide long-term security assistance to Ukraine”.

The British prime minister met with the Ukrainian president on Monday in London. He pledged that Britain would soon send anti-aircraft missiles and drones to Ukraine.

Mr. Zelensky has been asking his Western allies for months to provide his army with aircraft so that he can strike deep into Russian formations, which, however, is not believed to miraculously bring a solution and an end to the armed conflict.

On Monday in London, he reiterated that he wants an “aircraft coalition” and said he is “very optimistic” about it.

Britain has delivered anti-tank missiles, guns and multiple rocket launchers, air defense systems, armored fighting vehicles and Challenger heavy tanks to Ukraine and trained Ukrainian soldiers in their use.