US to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16s starting in September (Agerpres.ro)
US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed on Thursday the training of Ukrainian pilots by the United States to operate F-16 fighter jets, which will begin in September.
The two presidents spoke by phone and agreed on the need to strengthen Ukraine's air force in the face of the ongoing Russian invasion. Biden said that the United States would provide Ukraine with the necessary training and equipment to operate the F-16s.
"We discussed the start of training for Ukrainian fighter pilots and the assurance of rapid approval for other nations to transfer F-16s to Ukraine upon completion of training," the White House said in a statement.
The Pentagon said that Ukrainian pilots would be trained at US Air Force bases in Texas and Arizona. The training will begin in September and is expected to take several months.
Norway has recently announced that it will become the third country - after the Netherlands and Denmark - to provide Ukraine with F-16s. The Norwegian government said that it would donate eight F-16s to Ukraine, along with spare parts and ammunition.
The provision of F-16s to Ukraine is a significant development in the war. The F-16s are a powerful fighter jet that would give Ukraine a much-needed boost in its air defence capabilities.
