Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the country needs to implement organizational changes to its air force.
On February 4, 2025, President Zelenskyy shared on X that a meeting was held on the development of the Ukrainian Air Force in which he instructed the Minister of Defense of Ukraine to “strengthen both the Air Force command and the leadership of the Ministry of Defense.”
“Now we must accelerate the modernization of the Ukrainian military aviation system, which means new personnel approaches, organizational changes, and much greater attention of the command staff to pilots, engineers, and those who contribute their knowledge and energy to the development of the Air Force,” Zelenskyy wrote.
Zelenskyy noted that the country has already taken “significant steps” to transition F-16 fighter jets to effectively carry out combat missions in Ukraine. The arrival of the F-16 fighter jets significantly enhanced Ukraine’s defense capabilities, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense stated on its official website. The first batch of F-16 fighters was reportedly handed over to Ukraine in August 2024.
“This is a major success of our Armed Forces of Ukraine, one of the fastest transitions to a new type of aircraft among all countries,” Zelenskyy wrote on X. “We also look forward to seeing French fighter jets in our skies, which will undoubtedly strengthen our defense under control of Ukrainian pilots.”
On February 5, 2024, Ukraine’s Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov met with NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) Deputy Commander Major General Hartmut Renk, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense announced in a statement. The NSATU delegation visited various military sites in Ukraine to assess the ongoing requirements of the Defense Forces.
The meeting focused on the training and readiness of the Ukrainian military to meet NATO standards, military assistance, and the development of the Ukrainian Defense Forces’ capabilities within the scope of the Future Force strategy, the statement read.
“NATO continues to strengthen its military cooperation with Ukraine,” Umerov said. “NSATU’s mission is progressing rapidly, and it is essential that support be delivered promptly and in the necessary quantities. The establishment of the NSATU office in Ukraine will facilitate more effective execution implementation of joint initiatives.”
