Greece to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 jets
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Monday that Greece will play a role in the training of Ukrainian Air Force pilots for operating F-16 fighter jets.
This move follows Denmark and the Netherlands' commitments to supply Ukraine with the initial batch of US-manufactured F-16 fighter planes.
"I am grateful to Greece for its offer to participate in the training of F-16 pilots," Zelenskyy said during a joint press conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. "This is an important step for the aviation coalition and will help us to strengthen our defenses against Russia's aggression."
While Zelenskyy did not provide detailed information about the pilot training program, representatives from a coalition of 11 nations have stated that F-16 training for Ukrainian pilots will occur in Denmark and Romania. The training is set to commence this month, with the first group of Ukrainian F-16 pilots projected to complete their training by early 2024.
During his European tour, which included visits to Sweden, the Netherlands, and Denmark, Zelenskyy expressed his confidence in Ukraine's ability to counter Russia's invasion due to the promised deliveries of F-16 fighter jets. (ILKHA)