Step to Strengthening Air Defense of Ukraine: A Training Center for F-16 pilots will be created in Romania

"Today, during the informal Council of Ministers of Defense, we will begin (discuss) from Ukraine. For the Netherlands it is extremely important to continue to demonstrate our unity and our support for Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression. The Netherlands and Romania signed a letter of intentions to provide training and service f- yesterday 16 in Romania's training center.

It is a specific step to strengthen Ukraine's air defense from two European countries, and of course by all European countries that are members of the F-16 coalition, "the Netherlands Minister said. She noted that European government officials will also discuss the directions of strengthening European defense and joint work under the EU Strategic Compass, agreed by Member States more than a year ago.

The first six F-16 fighters hope to transfer to Ukraine for New Year, eight more-during 2024, and in 2025-five more. This was stated by Denmark Prime Minister Matte Frederixen at a joint press conference with Vladimir Zelensky. "On when we plan to provide planes. I hope the first group of aircraft will leave the land of Denmark and head to Ukraine closer to the new year. About six of them," the politician said. We will remind, on August 20 it became known that Ukraine will receive 42 F-16 fighters.

This was managed to agree during the negotiations of President Vladimir Zelensky and the Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte. Zelensky stated that the planes would be provided after training of Ukrainian pilots and engineers. And on August 18, it became known that the United States approved Denmark's request for the transfer of instructional materials to Ukraine for multi-purpose F-16 fighter jets.