Ukraine’s Foreign Minister has said that they are optimistic that they will receive modern F-16 fighter jets in the first half of 2024.
Ukrainian pilots are currently undergoing training with various Western air forces and they are also preparing infrastructure in preparation for the fighter jets.
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said, “Our pilots are currently undergoing training. As soon as the pilots complete their training, and in parallel Ukraine is preparing the infrastructure for this, the jets will be in Ukraine.
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“That is, the only obstacles for F-16s to appear in Ukrainian air are the completion of pilot training and infrastructure preparation.
“The optimistic scenario, I think, is somewhere in the first half of next year.”
Kuleba added, “And you remember the president’s tour when he was in Holland, in Denmark, when we showed the planes that will fly in our airspace.
“The latest achievement of the ‘aviation coalition’ is Belgium’s decision to provide aircraft.”
The Netherlands and Denmark have both officially agreed to donate F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine which will rapidly boost Kyiv’s fighting position against Russia.
The powerful US made F-16s were finally given the green light in August and they will be “operational as soon as possible” over the skies in Ukraine.
