Greece to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets
Greece has offered to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets, which Denmark and the Netherlands have promised to supply to Kiev. The announcement was made during a meeting between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Athens on August 21.
Mitsotakis also pledged to continue military support for Ukraine for as long as necessary and to take part in the country's reconstruction after the end of hostilities. Greece decided to join the G7 declaration on providing security guarantees to Ukraine.
"Greece has been on Ukraine's side from the very beginning, supporting your struggle to defend territorial integrity and national sovereignty," Mitsotakis said. "I assure you that we will continue to do so, however long it takes to achieve this sacred goal."
Zelensky thanked Greece for its support and said that the training of Ukrainian pilots would be "an important result for the aviation coalition."
The meeting between Mitsotakis and Zelensky also touched on the issue of the Western Balkans. Mitsotakis welcomed the leaders of the European Union countries and the Balkan region to a dinner in Athens on the eve of the meeting. The main topic of discussion was the future of the Western Balkans in the European Union, which many countries have already joined and the rest see themselves as part of the bloc.
