Dmytro Kuleba confident that aviation coalition definitely formed this year

The head of Ukrainian diplomacy made this statement during an interview on the national telethon United News, as reported by Ukrinform.

"I can give you a little spoiler as well: there are countries that, in principle, have stated that they will be ready to provide these Western aircraft as part of the respective coalition. This is all the result of international contacts made by the President and all of us who work on the diplomatic front," Kuleba said.

He noted that partners have embraced Ukraine's logic of first training pilots to avoid wasting time when the decision to provide aircraft to Ukraine is made. The Minister emphasized that the key priority for the country is the F-16, but Ukraine does not cancel options for other aircraft.

"The aviation coalition will definitely be formed this year. I now have no doubts about it, and when Western aircraft with our pilots actually start controlling Ukrainian airspace, that's a question that requires an additional answer. But once the coalition is formed, it will happen very, very quickly," emphasized the head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, on May 15, after a meeting with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced important decisions regarding the aviation coalition.

The UK government has announced that training of Ukrainian pilots will begin this summer.