Ukraine not to use F-16 jets in summer – Defence Minister
Oleksii Reznikov, Defence Minister of Ukraine, has said that Ukraine would not use the F-16 fighters during the upcoming counteroffensive in the summer, but the aircraft could be deployed in the fall or winter. Source: Reznikov in an interview with NHK Quote: When asked about the F-16 fighters, Reznikov replied that they would not change the situation this summer.
He said that it would take time to train Ukrainian pilots, and Ukraine will also have to agree with its partners to provide engineers and technical personnel who can deal with the maintenance and repair of these aircraft.
Advertisement:According to him, Ukraine will be ready to deploy the F-16s in the fall or winter.
Currently, some Western countries are preparing or have offered to train Ukrainian pilots to pilot these fighters.
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Background:
- Earlier, the Pentagon said that it would not challenge the transfer of US F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine by third countries.
- Following a meeting on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Council of Europe summit in Reykjavik, Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom and the Netherlands agreed to facilitate the creation of an international coalition to strengthen Ukraine's air defence.
- US President Joe Biden's administration informed European allies that the United States would allow them to transfer American F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.
- Ukraine's Ministry of Defence stated that a total of 48 F-16 fighter jets would be essential for the liberation of the country from the Russian invaders.
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