11 Countries Training Ukrainian Pilots to Operate F-16 Aircraft

Officials participating in the NATO summit in Lithuania announced today, Tuesday, that "an alliance of 11 countries will begin training Ukrainian pilots to operate F-16 fighter jets in August in Denmark, and a training center will be established in Romania." Denmark and the Netherlands, both NATO members, are leading international efforts to train pilots and support and maintenance teams for the aircraft, with the ultimate goal of supplying F-16s to Ukraine in its war with Russia. Danish acting Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen told reporters after the signing ceremony: "We hope to see results by early next year." So far, no country has committed to sending F-16s to Ukraine, although Poland and Slovakia have provided 27 MiG-29 aircraft to complement Ukraine's fleet of fighter jets. Kyiv has consistently urged Western nations to supply it with aircraft and train its pilots to use them in order to counter Russia's air superiority.