The Danish government announced today, Monday, that training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 aircraft has already begun, and the retirement of the Scandinavian country's fleet of aging American fighters has been postponed for two years.

Deputy Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said, "The alternative F-35 fighters will operate by 2025; initially, the plan was to work by 2027."

Lund Poulsen added that NATO member Denmark has taken a step to start additional training and education for Ukrainian pilots, and we will also study whether we should provide a tangible donation of F-16 fighters to Ukraine, and how many there should be."

Lund Poulsen told Danish radio, "Ukrainian pilots must spend six to eight months of training before the potential donation of a Danish F-16 aircraft becomes a reality. This does not mean that we cannot make a preliminary decision, but F-16 aircraft will remain in Denmark until 2024."

Denmark ordered 27 F-35 fighter jets, which will replace the over 40-year-old F-16 aircraft, of which Denmark has 30 operational aircraft. The transition to F-35 aircraft will take place from late 2023 until the end of 2025.

Ukraine has long requested Western fighter jets to help it resist the large-scale Russian invasion, which began in February 2022. Initially, the United States and other NATO countries, who were initially hesitant, agreed to allow Ukrainian pilots to receive training on F-16 aircraft. However, no country has committed to delivering the aircraft to Ukraine.