No F-16 infrastructure before reaching agreement says Zelensky
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says the initial understanding about the number of F-16 fighter jets to be sent to Ukraine in assistance is "powerful".
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Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a press conference at the European Political Community (EPC) Summit in Bulboaca, near Chisinau, Moldova, Thursday, June 1, 2023. (AP)
Kiev expected a "powerful" number of F-16 fighter jets to arrive in the country in military assistance from a number of collective West countries, however, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated, on Tuesday, that Ukraine did not have the infrastructure to employ such an aircraft.
"Regarding F-16s and infrastructure," said Zelensky, "There is no infrastructure, it will be built and prepared."
Nevertheless, Zelensky explained "There is no point in preparing it until there is an agreement that we will have the appropriate aircraft," adding that "our last very important meeting today was in Moldova, where I had one meeting behind closed doors with a number of countries that have confirmed that they will give us F-16s ... I have already received from some European partners an understanding about the number. It is powerful."
Selection of pilots for F16 training completed: Ukraine MoD
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said, on May 28, that pilots for training on F-16 fighters have been selected.
He noted that the training is due to start once everything is "technologically" prepared.
"When all the conditions are technologically ready, we will start training. The main thing is that our pilots are ready, the air force command has already selected candidates — an appropriate number of pilots and also engineers, technicians, mechanics because such equipment needs not only piloting skills but also maintenance," Reznikov told an all-Ukrainian telethon.
On May 26, Reznikov said Ukraine requires 48 F-16 fighters in order to take back the annexed territories. When asked to comment about the number of warplanes and the terms of their delivery to Ukraine, the official refused to comment.
Russia has called the delivery of the fighter jets another stage of escalation and warned that the warplanes will become a legitimate target for Russian forces.
"Certainly, this is an unacceptable escalation. I hope there are sensible people in the West who understand that," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.
Read more: F-16 jets to have minimal impact on progress of Ukraine war: Report
