Ukrainian soldiers won't be able to fly F-16s until summer 2024

According to the source, only six pilots were able to pass the initial training, while two others were on reserve. Although all were fluent in English, officials said the pilots still needed to attend a four-month English course in the UK to learn the specific terminology associated with the sophisticated jets.

Only after completing these language courses can pilots begin combat training. Ukrainian officials told the Washington Post that this will likely happen no earlier than January, and that the F-16 training program will last six months. A second group of similar size is expected to be ready to fly the jets by the end of 2024, the officials added, expressing frustration at the slow pace of the process.

US officials also told the Washington Post that another 20 Ukrainian pilots were ready to begin English language courses, with most of the country's best pilots expected to remain in Ukraine during language training as they continue to fly sorties in Soviet-era aircraft.

Last week, Politico also reported that, according to US sources, of the 32 Ukrainian pilots hoping to train on F-16s, only eight have sufficient English proficiency to participate in the instruction program. For months, Kiev has been asking the West for US-made fighter jets, arguing that they are crucial to its ongoing counteroffensive and will ultimately help Ukraine “win the war” with Russia. However, Washington does not share this view, arguing that the F-16s would have limited impact on the battlefield due to the extensive use of air defense systems by Russian forces in Ukraine. Russian officials have repeatedly warned the West that transferring F-16s to Ukraine would lead to an escalation of the conflict, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stressing that the US-made jets are capable of carrying nuclear weapons.