Ukraine hopes to receive up to 50 F-16 fighter jets from its Western allies, while Volodymyr Zelensky wants the issue to be at the center of discussion at the G7 summit in Japan and the NATO summit in Lithuania, reports Politico, citing an adviser to the Ukrainian defence minister. “Ukraine wants a total of 40 to 50 F-16s to form three or four squadrons to protect its skies,” writes Politico, as according to the Ukrainian minister’s adviser, the country now has “nothing to stop” Russian aircraft.

In addition, it adds that Zelensky received “assurances” from Western leaders during his latest European tour that they will discuss the issue in the coming days.

According to the publication, although the UK, Italy, France, and Germany cannot offer the F-16s to Kyiv, the Ukrainian adviser said that these countries “have an important voice in the international coalition” and Ukraine will want them to “inspire” allies like the US and Turkey.

Earlier, British authorities announced that training of Ukrainian pilots would begin in the summer and work would continue with other countries on the possible supply of F-16 fighter jets to Kyiv.