Ukrainian Pilots to Receive F-16 Training in US


Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky inside the F-16 in Denmark. (Ukrainian Presidency)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky inside the F-16 in Denmark. (Ukrainian Presidency)
TT

Ukrainian Pilots to Receive F-16 Training in US


Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky inside the F-16 in Denmark. (Ukrainian Presidency)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky inside the F-16 in Denmark. (Ukrainian Presidency)

The United States will begin flight training for Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets in October, the Pentagon announced on Thursday.

The training will begin after the pilots receive English language training next month, Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder said. The flight training will take place in Arizona, Ryder added.

In May, US President Joe Biden endorsed training programs for Ukrainian pilots on F-16s.

Ukraine will not be able to operate US-built F-16 fighter jets this coming autumn and winter, air force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat told Ukrainian television late on Wednesday.

"It's already obvious we won't be able to defend Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets during this autumn and winter," Ihnat told a joint telethon broadcast by Ukrainian channels.

US President Joe Biden endorsed training programs for Ukrainian pilots on F-16s in May. In addition to training in Denmark, a training center was to be set up in Romania.



Trump Casts Vote in Florida, Confident of Victory

 Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks after voting on Election Day at the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks after voting on Election Day at the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
TT

Trump Casts Vote in Florida, Confident of Victory

 Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks after voting on Election Day at the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks after voting on Election Day at the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump cast his ballot in Palm Beach, Florida, on Tuesday, saying his latest presidential campaign was the best yet.

“I ran a great campaign. I think it was maybe the best of the three. We did great in the first one. We did much better in the second one but something happened. I would say this is the best campaign we’ve run,” he said, standing next to his wife, Melania Trump.

“It seems that the conservatives are voting very powerfully,” Trump told reporters. “It looks like Republicans have shown up in force.”

Asked if he had any regrets about his campaign, Trump responded, “I can’t think of any.”

“If it’s a fair election, I’d be the first one to acknowledge,” the results, Trump said.

He said that he had no plans to tell his supporters to refrain from violence should he lose.

“I don’t have to tell them,” because they “are not violent people,” he said.

Trump planned to visit a nearby campaign office to thank those working on his behalf.

He added he will have “a very special group of people” at Mar-a-Lago and a few thousand people at a nearby convention center to watch the election results.

“It looks like we have a very substantial lead,” he said without elaborating on whether he has a plan on when to declare victory.