Ukraine’s defense minister urges Denmark to finance training of more F-16 pilots

Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov urged Denmark to help finance the training of more pilots on the F-16.

Umerov and the AFU chief Oleksandr Syrskyi met with a Danish delegation led by Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen in Kyiv on March 23.

Umerov said that defense cooperation between the two states is growing, and a new unified mechanism for investing in Ukrainian companies is being developed.

Umerov thanked his Danish counterpart for his country's role in numerous initiatives in support of Ukraine, especially for its co-leadership in providing F-16 aircraft and training pilots.

"I call on our Danish partners to finance the training of more Ukrainian F-16 pilots in other countries, if possible."

The minister also briefed the Danish delegation on the situation on the battlefield.

Danish Defense Minister Poulsen took part in the 16th Kyiv Security Forum. NATO countries can and should do more to support Ukraine, as it will be too late in two or three years.

"Russia will not stop and will go further. If we don't act today, it will be too late tomorrow. Today, the key factor is the time factor. In 2-3 years, it will be too late for all other countries to wake up."

The minister noted the insufficient defense spending by some NATO members and the problems of the European military defense complex and the production of shells.

On March 22, ten Ukrainian military pilots completed basic flight training in the UK under the guidance of Royal Air Force instructors to fly Western fighter jets.

The UK Ministry of Defense showed off the first Ukrainian military pilots to complete basic flight training to fly Western fighter jets.