English language, a stick in wheel of Ukraine F-16 training: Politico
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20 individuals with basic English skills are expected to start language classes in the United Kingdom this month.
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An F-16 jet fighter aircraft of the Dutch Royal Air Force takes off during the international exercise 'Frisian Flag 2019' at Leeuwarden Airbase, on April 1, 2019. (AFP)
According to Politico on Friday, Western efforts to train Ukrainian pilots to fly advanced F-16 jets are being hampered by the service members’ poor English language skills.
According to sources, of Ukraine's 32 pilots, only 8 had enough English proficiency to partake in a future training program.
Read more: West 'playing with fire' over plans to send F-16s to Ukraine: Lavrov
A Pentagon source told Sputnik on Thursday that there are still no updates on whether European allies have established a plan of action to train Ukrainian pilots to use F-16 fighter planes.
According to a US official and a person familiar with the matter interviewed by Politico, an initial set of eight Ukrainian pilots fluent in English is ready to begin training once a formal teaching plan is developed by multiple European nations and authorized by the US.
However, "english proficiency remains a sticking point," with the remaining 32 Ukrainian pilots selected for training on the F-16 fighter planes. As such, 20 individuals with basic English skills are expected to start language classes in the United Kingdom this month.
It is worth noting that the Ukrainian President has been desperate for fighter jets, repeatedly pushing for advanced Western jets, but Kiev's international supporters had balked at doing so until recently.
On July 16, the US said it granted permission to its European partners to commence training Ukrainian pilots on fly F-16 fighter jets.
White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan confirmed the decision on Sunday and emphasized the US commitment to providing the necessary tools for the training program.
"The president has given the green light, and we will allow, permit, support, facilitate, and, in fact, provide the necessary tools for Ukrainians to begin being trained on F-16s as soon as Europeans are prepared," Jake Sullivan told CNN.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in July that Russia will consider the presence of F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine sent from the West as a "nuclear" threat due to their capacity to carry atomic weapons, therefore representing a direct threat to Russia.
"Russia cannot ignore the ability of these aircraft to carry nuclear weapons. No amount of assurances will help here," Lavrov was quoted as saying by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
