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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)
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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.

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US Announces New Sanctions Against Iran as Talks Proceed 

People walk past an anti-US mural on a street in Tehran, Iran, May 11, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
People walk past an anti-US mural on a street in Tehran, Iran, May 11, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
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US Announces New Sanctions Against Iran as Talks Proceed 

People walk past an anti-US mural on a street in Tehran, Iran, May 11, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
People walk past an anti-US mural on a street in Tehran, Iran, May 11, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

The United States announced new sanctions Monday against Iran over its nuclear program, despite ongoing negotiations between the two countries over the sensitive issue.

The latest sanctions target three Iranian citizens and an Iranian entity with links to Tehran's Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research, also known by its Persian acronym SPND.

"Iran continues to substantially expand its nuclear program and carry out dual-use research and development activities applicable to nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons delivery systems," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement.

He said Iran is the only country in the world without nuclear weapons that enriches uranium to 60 percent purity.

That level far exceeds the 3.67 percent maximum set under the 2015 nuclear deal, which US President Donald Trump exited during his first term. Building a nuclear weapon requires 90 percent enrichment.

The United States announced the new sanctions a day after a fourth round of talks with Iran concluded. No major breakthrough was announced after the talks, but both sides voiced cautious optimism.

The discussions began last month and aim to seal a new accord that would prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapon. Tehran denies seeking to build one.

The sanctions freeze any assets that the targeted people and entity may have in America and bans business dealings with them.

They are aimed at three senior officials of the nuclear program and a company called Fuya Pars Prospective Technologists.

"Fuya Pars Prospective Technologists, also known as Ideal Vacuum, is an SPND-affiliated company that has attempted to procure from foreign suppliers, as well as indigenously fabricate, equipment that could be applicable in nuclear weapons research and development," the State Department said.