Air Forces call on international partners to accelerate F-16 delivery
The Air Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are ready to start the process of providing Ukraine with modern Western fighter jets, the lists of pilots for training have been approved and they can leave.
Yurii Ihnat, a spokesman for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said this on the air of the United News telethon, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
"The process has already been launched, and the green light seems to have been given by all the members of our newly formed aviation coalition, so we need to move forward as quickly as possible. Everything is ready in the Air Forces. We are ready to receive equipment, pilots are ready to leave tomorrow and start training," he emphasized.
Ihnat reminded that the lists of Ukrainian pilots for the training have already been approved by the commander.
The spokesperson emphasized that without aviation, it is difficult for Ukrainian ground forces to advance and regain their territories.
As reported, Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov earlier said that during a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission, specific commitments were reached by the allies to organize specialized training for Ukrainian pilots on F-16s, which would pave the way for the delivery of these aircraft to Ukraine.
On July 1, President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that there is no schedule for training Ukrainian pilots on Western F-16s, and that some foreign partners are delaying.