Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis signed an agreement during their meeting in Athens on Monday. The agreement includes Greece’s participation in training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets. While specific details were not provided, President Zelensky expressed confidence in Greece’s assistance in this area.
Prime Minister Mitsotakis expressed his full support for Ukraine, vowing to provide military support for as long as necessary and aid in postwar reconstruction efforts. He also condemned the Russian war crimes in Ukraine and emphasized the need for international punishment for these actions.
The war in Ukraine has also had ripple effects across the globe, leading to concerns from the U.S. Embassy in Belarus. They have urged Americans to leave the country immediately due to potential spillover risks from the conflict, including the buildup of Russian troops in Belarus.
Meanwhile, promised deliveries of F-16 by the Netherlands and Denmark have raised President Zelensky’s confidence in Ukraine’s ability to withstand Russia in the war.
In a significant show of support, an 11-nation coalition consisting of the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, and Britain will begin training Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16s this month. The training will initially take place in Denmark before a center is established in Romania. Ukrainian air force spokesman Yuriy Ignat revealed that another group of pilots will receive flight training in Britain, lasting up to two years.
The United States has also expressed readiness to authorize the transfer of F-16 aircraft to Ukraine once certain criteria are met, including English-language training and logistics. Deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh confirmed that the United States would be willing to participate in the training of Ukrainian pilots if there is sufficient capacity in Europe.
In recent developments, Russian air defense forces intercepted two drones near Moscow. One drone hit a 25-story apartment building, causing damage but no casualties. Moscow closed its three airports temporarily before resuming operations a few hours later. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that Kyiv was behind the drone attacks.
Furthermore, Russian shelling damaged four multistory buildings in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, without causing any casualties. The U.S. Embassy in Belarus has issued a warning to Americans, urging them to leave the country due to the presence of Russian forces, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, and the risk of detention and civil unrest. Baltic countries, including Lithuania, Poland, and Latvia, are also considering closing more border crossings in response to the conflict.
In an effort to bolster its borders, Poland has secured a sale of 96 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters from the United States, with additional missile requests. The country has sought to enhance its defenses following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In economic news, the Russian company overseeing the Domino’s Pizza brand in Russia has announced that it will file for bankruptcy, marking the end of its operations in the country. This decision follows the cutoff of financial support from the U.S.-based Domino’s Pizza in December 2022, which occurred in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
As the conflict continues, civilians in Ukraine are being evacuated from the city of Kupyansk to ensure their safety. Russia has increased its attacks on the city in an attempt to retake it, leading to the deaths of several civilians each week. Volunteer groups have formed a coalition to assist with the evacuation, with some individuals driving an ambulance through the shelled city to reach vulnerable residents, including the elderly who survived the previous Russian occupation and are hesitant to leave their homes.
Overall, the signing of the agreement between Ukraine and Greece, along with international support for Ukraine, demonstrates solidarity against Russian aggression. However, the increasing spillover risks, continued attacks, and potential consequences of the conflict highlight the ongoing challenges faced by Ukraine and neighboring countries.