LONDON

The UK announced on Monday it will start training Ukrainian pilots in the summer so that they could better defend their country.

"This summer we will commence an elementary flying phase for cohorts of Ukrainian pilots to learn basic training. This will adapt the program used by UK pilots to provide Ukrainians with piloting skills they can apply a different kind of aircraft," the government said in a statement.

"This training goes hand in hand with UK efforts to work with other countries on providing F16 jets – Ukraine’s fighter jets of choice," it added.

The announcement came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid a surprise visit to London to hold "substantive negotiations" with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

In the past year, the UK has provided training to 15,000 Ukrainian soldiers to enhance their readiness for the battlefield.

Meanwhile, the country will host a Ukraine Recovery Conference to "galvanise international investment to support Ukraine’s reconstruction."