Reznikov: F-16 training coalition of 11 countries officially formed.

An international coalition to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets has been formed, Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said [1] on July 11. At the NATO summit in Vilnius, Reznikov signed a memorandum outlining the training terms with 11 coalition members. Those are Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

"I'm especially grateful to Denmark and the Netherlands for their outstanding leadership in this process," the defense minister added. According to Reznikov, Ukrainian pilots, technicians, and support staff will participate in the training program, which may involve other types of combat aircraft as well. In May, allies agreed to build the coalition [2] to help procure the U.S.-built F-16 jets for Ukraine and train Ukrainian fighter pilots.

On June 12, Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said the Netherlands and other allies were hoping to begin the training for Ukrainian pilots this summer [3]. Ukraine has received Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets from Poland [4] and Slovakia [5] but has been pushing for more advanced aircraft. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has previously said it requires [6] at least 48 F-16 fighter jets to liberate territory from Russia.

Editorial: Arming Ukraine won't escalate war.

Reluctance to do so will First it was the tanks, now it's the fighter jets. As Ukraine braces for another possible major Russian offensive in the upcoming weeks, Western leaders are yet again coming up with a variety of excuses why this time, they cannot justify supplying F-16 and F-35 fighter jets to Ukraine.

[7]

References

^ said (twitter.com)
^ build the coalition (national-coalition-to-help-ukraine-procure-f-16-jets)
^ this summer (kyivindependent.com)
^ Poland (kyivindependent.com)
^ Slovakia (kyivindependent.com)
^ requires (kyivindependent.com)
^ Editorial: Arming Ukraine won't escalate war.

Reluctance to do so willFirst it was the tanks, now it's the fighter jets.

As Ukraine braces for another possible major Russian offensive in the upcoming weeks, Western leaders are yet again coming up with a variety of excuses why this time, they cannot justify supplying F-16 and F-35 fighter jets to Ukraine. (kyivindependent.com)