“Training can start now ,” he said, assuring that this could be done with “European countries that are ready for it”. "I believe discussions are underway with the Americans ," he said. Regarding the delivery of fighter planes, the president claimed not to have "spoken of planes" but of "missiles and training". “At the moment, we are starting training. This is the agreement that several Europeans have taken, ” he concluded.
I think the USA's biggest issue is the cost of "donating" US F-16's. If Europe is willing to pay for most of the costs, I'm sure there are F-16's we would donate. But the cost to operate say, 2 squadrons of jets (48 total) is not insignificant. Even then, air-launched weapons are expensive too. And unlike the overwhelming majority of what we have sent to Ukraine thus far, air launched weapons (particularly stand-off precision strike), are needed in our arsenal should we face China in a war.
I believe that the Netherlands are willing to donate their F-16AM/BM aircraft to Ukraine. Here's a link:
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/dutch-pm-says-talks-f-16s-ukraine-progressing-2023-05-04/
The problem is transferring them to Ukraine requires U.S. approval under ITAR.
The Netherlands are retiring their F-16s as they get their F-35s.
“I think the USA’s biggest issue is the cost of “donating” US F-16’s” (plus O&M)
It seems that consensus has been reached that Ukraine should (must) be given Western fighter jets, but folks are still dancing around who will pay, and how much.