It is known that, the United States gave the green light to third countries to join efforts to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets. At the same time, several European states announced the launch of training programs for Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter aircraft.
As a reminder, a Basic Pilot Assessment (BPA) document conducted by the Air Force on a pair of Ukrainian pilots last spring states that they can only be released outside the U.S. government to approved individuals from Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Great Britain, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and the Netherlands. With the exception of Great Britain, all of these countries are F-16 operators.
After the evaluation, which included nine separate simulator courses totaling 11 hours, the F-16 pilot trainers concluded that, the two Ukrainians had demonstrated above-average skill progress. This included a demonstrated ability in the simulator to successfully land the aircraft from a simulated flight pattern (SFO).
In a new development, the Danish government has announced that it has begun training Ukrainian pilots in F-16 aircraft, and the retirement of the Scandinavian country's fleet of aging American fighters has been extended by two years.
Defence Minister Lund Poulsen said NATO member Denmark "has taken the step to start a training and further training effort for Ukrainian pilots".
"We will also consider whether we should make a specific donation to Ukraine of Danish F-16 fighters and how many there should be," he said.
Ukrainian pilots need to undergo six to eight months of training before a possible donation of Danish F-16s becomes a reality, Lund Poulsen told Danish TV network DR.
"That doesn't mean that, you can't make a decision in advance. But (the F-16s) will be in Denmark until 2024," Lund Poulsen said.
To note, Denmark has ordered 27 F-35A fighter jets, which will replace F-16s over 40 years old, of which Denmark has 30 operational aircraft. The transition to the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, takes place from late 2023 to late 2025.
Ukraine has long called for Western fighter jets to help it resist a full-scale Russian invasion , which began in February 2022. Initially reluctant, the US and other NATO countries recently agreed to allow Ukrainian pilots to receive training in F-16 fighters, though none has yet committed to deliver any planes.
Formal negotiations to resolve the situation in Ukraine will begin as early as next month, according to information obtained by the German TV channel ARD. In July, the parties may meet at the negotiating table to discuss ways to resolve the long-standing conflict.
According to the source, an international meeting on Ukraine was held on June 24 in the Danish capital, in neutral territory and under the strictest confidentiality. It was attended by representatives of Western countries and diplomats from Brazil, India, China and South Africa. All these states are part of the BRICS and so far remain neutral with regard to the conflict in Ukraine.
As the TV channel points out, the main objective of the Western countries was to receive support from the aforementioned BRICS countries. Their participation and position may be crucial in the upcoming negotiations and it is likely that their voice will have a significant impact on the course and outcome of the talks.
According to ARD, the initiative to hold this meeting came from Kiev. Ukraine is obviously doing everything possible to find an effective and fair solution to resolve the current conflict.
A small bridgehead on the left bank of the Dnieper has been under the control of Ukrainian forces for more than three days. The units of the Russian Armed Forces have been forced to withdraw from this area due to the continuous activity of the Ukrainian artillery and its special forces, which created a serious threat to their encirclement. According to the "Telegram" channel "Two Majors", the movement from the positions was carried out in conditions of active hostilities.
Also at night, the Ukrainian side reinforces its forces by delivering ammunition and technical equipment. As the "Telegram" channel "Two Majors" notes, the Ukrainian army is actively trying to expand the zone of control.
