Stoltenberg spoke about the compatibility of NATO troops with the Ukrainian army. The Secretary General cited F-16 fighter jets as an example, noting that Ukraine would receive not only NATO aircraft but also pilots trained to NATO standards.
Propaganda launched another fake to support the narrative that the Russian aggression is being countered by a «Western army» and not the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Russian media claimed that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg «blurted out who is really fighting in Ukraine.» The pro-Kremlin media claim that Stoltenberg allegedly admitted that the American F-16 fighter jets that will be delivered to the Ukrainian army will be flown by «NATO pilots.»
The Russian media manipulated Jens Stoltenberg’s statement made on June 17, 2024, during a speech at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, DC. The NATO Secretary General speculated that Ukraine would join the Alliance as a full member, and that work in this direction was already underway.
Stoltenberg also emphasized that the Alliance, among other things, has begun work on the interoperability of the Ukrainian armed forces with NATO forces. The Secretary General noted that this is part of a comprehensive package of assistance to Ukraine focused on interoperability with NATO. The Allies are providing the Ukrainian army with modern standard NATO weapons. In this context, Stoltenberg mentioned the arrival of American F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine, noting that the country will receive not only NATO aircraft but also pilots trained to NATO standards.
«The fact that now delivering F-16s of course will create the future Ukrainian Air Force that will be NATO interoperable. NATO planes, NATO pilots, NATO trained pilots and NATO procedures for their Air Force. The same with advanced air defence systems and a lot of others. So, everything we do when it comes to supplying, providing weapons also helps us to ensure interoperability and integrate them into NATO,» Stoltenberg emphasized.
It was this phrase of the NATO Secretary General that the Russian media clung to, although it was only a small clarifying remark by Stoltenberg, which did not prevent Russian «experts» of various kinds from starting to build conspiracy theories about who the Russian occupation army is «really» fighting against in Ukraine. This is a convenient narrative for Russian propaganda, which «easily» explains the failures of Russia’s war against Ukraine, so the Russian media are happy to cling to such a blooper. Although Stoltenberg immediately corrected himself, emphasizing that the phrase «NATO pilots» refers exclusively to Ukrainian military personnel trained by NATO instructors, the propaganda has taken its conspiracy theories to the masses.
For more on this topic, read StopFake’s pieces Fake: Stoltenberg «Acknowledged NATO’s Involvement» in Attacks on Russian Fleet, Fake: Czech General Staff «Confirmed» Intention to Send Troops to Ukraine and Fake: NATO Chief says Alliance Preparing for War with Russia for Eight Years.
