“Ukraine can count on us”
Kiev’s fighter pilots begin training in Britain
06/05/2023 10:13 p.m
Ukraine is confident that the country will receive a number of Western F-16 fighter jets. Kiev wants to be prepared for a delivery that could take place in months. The pilots are preparing for training in the UK.
Preparations for training Ukrainian pilots in the UK have started. Prime Minister Denys Schmyhal thanked London at a meeting with British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly in Kiev “for their willingness to train pilots. The first group has been sent to Great Britain.” However, according to Shmyhal’s message, which was published via Telegram, the spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force Yuri Ihnat made it clear to the portal “Ukrainska Pravda” that no pilots had left the country. “The first groups of aviation specialists have left and are examining the possibility of further training of Ukrainian pilots,” he said.
Schmyhal himself also updated his Telegram message in the evening and made it clear with regard to the pilots: “The first group has already been selected to be trained in Great Britain.” Ihnat further explained to “Ukrajinska Pravda” that it is about training at different levels of specialists, including aeronautical engineers who have to maintain aircraft on a daily basis and officers who have combat control. It’s not just about pilots, Ihnat said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi has recently repeatedly spoken of a “fighter jet coalition” in which several countries are participating. Ukraine is hoping for a delivery of 48 US F-16 fighter jets to regain control of its airspace in the fight against Russia’s war of aggression. Ukrainian troops are conforming to NATO standards, Shmyhal said.
The country is striving for membership in the military alliance. At his meeting with Cleverly, the head of government also called for tougher sanctions against Russia. “This will bleed the Russian war machine dry,” he said. At the meeting with Cleverly, Schmyhal – like Kiev’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba before him – praised the fact that London would organize a reconstruction conference for Ukraine later this month. It is hoped that this will provide resources for reconstruction.
Cleverly, who also posted a photo of his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Twitter, said: “Ukraine can count on our support for as long as it is needed.” Along with the US and Germany, Great Britain is one of the biggest supporters of Ukraine in the fight against the Russian invasion. The country has also been the first to supply longer-range missiles to Ukraine.