F-16 Fighters Could Be Deployed in Ukraine as Early as Spring 2024, Reznikov

F-16 fighters could be used by Ukraine for the first time in the spring of 2024. This was stated by Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov in an interview with Bild, as reported by RIA Novosti.

“I would say that this could happen in the spring of next year, as we have already started preparation courses for our pilots, engineers, and technicians,” he informed the publication.

According to Reznikov, it is essential for Ukraine to prepare the infrastructure for the fighters. “This will presumably take at least six months, or perhaps a little longer,” he added.

Reznikov assesses the use of F-16 fighters as a “turning point” in the confrontation with Russia, noting that Russia currently maintains air superiority.

It is worth mentioning that the White House recently confirmed that Ukraine will receive combat aircraft from third countries after its pilots complete their training. The Pentagon also stated that Ukraine currently lacks the necessary infrastructure to deploy F-16s.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted in this regard that the U.S. and its NATO partners are creating risks for direct armed conflict with Russia. He pointed out that the presence of nuclear-capable F-16 fighters in Kyiv could be perceived by Russia as a nuclear threat from the West.