Zelensky: Portugal to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16s.

Portugal has confirmed that it will join the international efforts to train Ukrainian pilots and technicians on F-16 fighter jets, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Aug.

24, as reported[1] by Interfax-Ukraine. "Portugal is a member of our tank and aviation coalition. Today, Portugal confirmed its readiness to join the training of Ukrainian pilots and engineers on F-16 aircraft," the president said after meeting his Portuguese counterpart Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in Kyiv.

Zelensky added that the two leaders discussed further defense cooperation, in particular the supply of armored medical vehicles and mine-clearing equipment, Interfax-Ukraine wrote. "We are grateful that Portugal supported the Peace Formula, and participates in joint work with partners in the preparation of the Ukraine-Latin America and Ukraine-Africa summits," the Ukrainian president said. Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov announced[2] during the NATO summit in Vilnius in mid-July the official formation of the "fighter jet coalition," a group of 11 countries that will assist Kyiv with training its pilots on F-16s and with acquiring the aircraft itself.

First Ukrainian pilots have already begun[3] their training in Denmark. Reznikov noted[4] that he expects it will take at least six to seven months before Ukraine's pilots and technicians are ready to operate the aircraft. So far, Denmark and the Netherlands have pledged to provide their own F-16s to bolster Ukraine's Air Force.

The Norwegian news channel TV 2 reported that Oslo also plans to supply[5] its retired U.S.-made jets.

Media: Norway to donate F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine Norway has decided to donate an unspecified number of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, the Norwegian TV 2 television channel reported on Aug.

24, citing unnamed sources.

[6] Martin Fornusek

News Editor

Martin Fornusek is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent. He has previously worked as a news content editor at the media company Newsmatics and is a contributor to Euromaidan Press.

He also volunteers as an editor and translator at the Czech-language version of Ukrainer. Martin studied at Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, holding a bachelor's degree in security studies and history and a master's degree in conflict and democracy studies.

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References

1. ^ reported (en.interfax.com.ua)
2. ^ announced (kyivindependent.com)
3. ^ begun (kyivindependent.com)
4. ^ noted (kyivindependent.com)
5. ^ supply (kyivindependent.com)
6. ^ Media: Norway to donate F-16 fighter jets to UkraineNorway has decided to donate an unspecified number of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, the Norwegian TV 2 television channel reported on Aug.

   24, citing unnamed sources. (kyivindependent.com)