Romania will allow the training of Ukrainian pilots at its Fetești Air Base and the transit of military equipment that Finland donated to Ukraine, President Klaus Iohannis announced on Monday, according to Euractiv.
Iohannis informed parliament that he approved the transit of equipment and supplies donated by Finland to Ukraine and the training of some 50 Ukrainian pilots, parliament’s press service said on Monday.
His letter will be read out during the next joint plenary session of the two chambers on 25 March.
In October 2023, the Finnish Defence Ministry announced its intention to donate equipment and supplies to Ukraine and requested Romania’s support for transit through its territory and facilitation of training activities for Ukrainian crews to operate the donated equipment.
In addition, Finland requested free logistical support for Ukrainian personnel participating in the training exercises. This included transport, food, accommodation, fuel for training activities and any other logistical needs during the training period.
Funding for the training of approximately 50 Ukrainian soldiers will come from the Defence Ministry’s budget, with measures in place to reimburse the costs through the EU’s Military Assistance Mission in Support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine).
Ukrainian military personnel are expected to arrive at the Fetești Air Base this summer and might be trained until the end of 2024.
“Romania’s engagement in the training activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine sends a strong message regarding the support of the collective defence effort,” according to the letter.
Romania, which shares a 650-kilometre-long border with Ukraine, is part of an international coalition formed in July 2023 to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets.
On 13 November last year, the Romanian and Dutch defence ministers inaugurated the training centre for F-16 pilots at the military base in Feteşti, 150 kilometres east of Bucharest.