Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelensky discussed training of Ukrainian F-16 pilots

The American president Joe Biden discussed in the early hours of Friday (25/8) with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky regarding the training Ukrainian pilots in the handling of the F-16 fighter jetwhich will soon become American territory, the White House announced.

“Presidents Biden and Zelensky discussed the start of Ukrainian fighter pilot training and an assurance that approval would be given quickly for other countries to transfer their F-16s to Ukraine after the training is complete”says a press release from the US presidency.

The US government said earlier yesterday that it would participate in the training of Ukrainian F-16 pilots starting next month, putting aside months of reluctance to deliver the jets to Kiev.

The pilots will “train in English” in Texas in September before “taking part in the handling” of the fighters in Arizona (southwest) in October, US Pentagon spokesman Wing Commander Pat Ryder said.

Earlier yesterday, Norway announced that it will become the third country to deliver Lockheed Martin aircraft to the Ukrainian Air Force. Denmark has pledged 19 and the Netherlands 42 fighters.

Kiev has been demanding F-16s for months, but this requires lengthy training. According to Wing Commander Ryder, however, in the case of the Ukrainian pilots, the training will last from five to eight months, as they already have skills.

The spokesman stressed that training in English is a prerequisite because of the “complexity” and “technical terminology in English” that pilots need to know very well to operate these fighters.

The green light for F-16 delivery to Ukraine was practically given by the G7 in Hiroshima in June.