Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said that during the expected counter-offensive in the summer, Ukraine would not use F-16 fighter jets, but the aircraft could be deployed in the fall or winter.
Source: Reznikov in an interview with NHK
Literally: When asked about the F-16 fighters, Reznikov replied that they would not change the situation this summer.
Reznikov said training Ukrainian pilots would take time, and Ukraine would also have to negotiate with its partners to provide engineers and technicians to maintain and repair the aircraft.
According to him, Ukraine will be ready to deploy F-16s in autumn or winter.
Now some Western countries are training or have offered to train Ukrainian pilots to pilot these fighters.
What preceded this:
- Earlier, the Pentagon said that they would not object to the transfer of American F-16 fighters to Ukraine by third countries.
- Following a meeting on the sidelines of the Council of Europe summit in Reykjavik, the Prime Ministers of Great Britain and the Netherlands agreed to promote the creation of an international coalition to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense.
- The Joe Biden administration has informed European allies that the US will allow them to transfer US F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.
- The Ministry of Defense reported that 48 F-16 fighters are needed to liberate Ukraine from Russian invaders.
Source: Ukrainska Pravda
