Several dozen Ukrainians are ready to use F-16s - Air Force spokesman Ihnat

He said this on the air of a nationwide telethon.

“We plan to transfer all pilots to them. We need to train everyone. But the Air Force commander has identified pilots who already have a certain level of English, combat experience, and these are young pilots. They are ready to fight even tomorrow. We need a political decision to start the process of training ground personnel, including combat management officers and military engineers. Several dozen pilots are ready to fight,” Ihnat said. 

• On April 29, it was reported that US President Joe Biden was under pressure, including from his own party, to provide Ukraine with long-range fighter jets and missiles.

• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also called on Western partners to make a decision to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets, while emphasizing that the lack of modern aircraft would not affect the launch of a counteroffensive.