Key Takeaways
- Ukrainian pilots will start F-16 training in August, marking a major boost to Ukraine’s air capabilities.
- Training, announced by Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, is expected to last at least six months.
- Potential host nations include Denmark, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Poland.
- US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan confirmed the program is part of broader US‑European support.
Kyiv: Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said on Monday that Ukrainian pilots would begin training on US-made F-16 fighter jets in August.
Last Friday, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan announced that F-16 training for Ukrainian pilots would commence in the coming weeks.
The United States is collaborating with its European allies to finalize the training locations and dates.
In an interview with CNN, Reznikov said that the training would last at least six months and would likely take place in Denmark and the Netherlands, as well as the United Kingdom or Poland.
The minister added that by the spring of 2024, pilots will be able to fly F-16s in Ukrainian skies.
He also said that the training could be divided between countries, but the final plans are still being finalized.
In mid-July, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the delivery of F-16 fighters to Ukraine would lead to a further escalation of the Ukraine conflict because the jets have a modification that makes them nuclear-capable.
