Ukraine and Czechia agree to cooperate on training Ukrainian F-16 pilots
Petr Fiala and Denys Shmyhal (t.me/Denys_Smyhal)
On Tuesday, May 20, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met with his Czech counterpart Petr Fiala in Uzhhorod. According to Shmyhal, the two leaders agreed to cooperate in the training of Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet pilots.
According to Shmyhal, the meeting with Fiala covered a wide range of issues, including security, economic cooperation, Ukraine's European integration, and the country's recovery.
"Czechia is at the forefront of the sanctions policy against the aggressor. We count on further strengthening of sanctions, as well as blocking all loopholes used to circumvent the existing restrictions. We welcome the adoption of the EU's 17th sanctions package. We also insist on the full confiscation of immobilized Russian assets in the West," he stated.
Both prime ministers reaffirmed the importance of further increasing military, financial, economic, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.
"We will strengthen the integration of Ukrainian and Czech defense industries. In addition, we agreed to cooperate in training Ukrainian F-16 pilots," Shmyhal added.
The Czech side also pledged to actively support Ukraine's European integration, particularly by providing advisory assistance during the pre-accession negotiation process.
Furthermore, Shmyhal and Fiala agreed to intensify bilateral trade and cooperation in energy, agriculture, transport, healthcare, and reconstruction.
"I am confident that Ukraine and Czechia will continue to jointly and effectively respond to numerous security, economic, and integration challenges. Together, we will do everything possible to ensure a peaceful and stable future for the Ukrainian and Czech peoples," the Ukrainian Prime Minister said.
F-16s for Ukraine
Back in 2023, Ukraine and its allies formed an air coalition aimed at supplying the country with F-16 fighter jets. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine needs a minimum of 128 F-16 aircraft.
In 2024, the first F-16 jets from partner nations began arriving in Ukraine. However, the exact number of jets delivered so far remains undisclosed. The first aircraft were provided by the Netherlands and Denmark.
In March of this year, Zelenskyy announced that a new batch of F-16s had arrived in Ukraine.
It has also been confirmed that Belgium will supply Ukraine with 30 fighter jets by the end of 2028.
In early April, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Christopher G. Cavoli, stated that additional F-16s were being prepared for delivery to Ukraine, though he did not specify which country would be providing them.
Meanwhile, US media outlet The War Zone recently reported that the United States has sent decommissioned F-16s to Ukraine, to be used primarily for spare parts.
Additionally, it was recently announced that Czechia, together with partners from the Coalition of the Willing, will help train Ukrainian pilots on both F-16 and L-39 aircraft.
