Ukraine's main task and problem in obtaining F-16 fighter jets is to find the required number of pilots, presidential office head Andriy Yermak said at a meeting with journalists.
"Today, the main issue is that the president has set a task and a special group has been set up to find this number of pilots. This is a big task for the new defence minister," Yermak said.
He noted that the issue of fighter jets was raised with partners a year before Russia's full-scale invasion.
"A year before the invasion, we were in the White House. That's when the president raised the Patriot issue for the first time. There was a pause. And even we didn't dream of it... Today they are here. We were talking about F-16s. Two years ago, it seemed impossible. Today we have a solution," Yermak said.
Next year the Netherlands plans to supply Ukraine with the first batch of F-16 fighter jets.