That is according to The Kyiv Independent citing online newspaper Yevropeiska Pravda with reference to Ihor Zhovkva, a presidential deputy chief of staff.
As The Kyiv Independent reports, the European countries include the U.K., the Netherlands, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, Portugal, and France, he said. The U.S., a ninth member, has also joined the coalition.
Read more: The Netherlands Is Ready to Hand Over F-16 Fighters to Ukraine - How Many Aircraft Are There and What Are the Terms of Delivery
Ukraine’s presidential deputy chief of staff states, the coalition is taking real steps to accelerate the training of Ukrainian pilots and technicians on F-16s and other fourth-generation fighter jets, The Kyiv Independent notes.
The report does not mention what specific aircraft models are being considered.
On May 25, the Swedish government announced it will train Ukraine's pilots on its JAS 39 Gripen jets, but added it will not provide the planes to Kyiv.
JAS 39 Gripen or Su-27: Which Fighter is Better Depends on Very Specific Conditions
The statement by the President's Office comes after a meeting of the 'fighter jet coalition' in Moldova on June 1.
Earler President Volodymyr Zelensky met the leaders of the U.K., the Netherlands, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, and Belgium to discuss the training of pilots and procurement of Western fighter jets.
The leaders agreed to formalize the coalition under the name 'Ukraine's Sky Shield' at the next Rammstein Summit of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, following consultations with the U.S., which is also a party to the coalition.
Defense Express reported earlier on How the Ukrainian Armed Forces Were Taking MiG-29 Fulcrums Out of Mothballs and What it Means For the Transition to the F-16.
Read more: EU High Representative: the F-16 Fighter Training of Ukrainian Pilots Has Begun
