Ukraine has opened a series of large-scale air-force exercises with the United States and seven other NATO countries, the Ukrainian Defence Ministry announced.

The multinational air force exercise Clear Sky 2018 has begun in Ukraine, President Petro Poroshenko has said on Facebook.

“Within 12 days, the tasks in the sky will be carried out by highly skilled pilots from Belgium, Britain, Denmark, Estonia, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, the United States and Ukraine,” Poroshenko wrote.

Some 700 troops are taking part, half of them from NATO member countries — the United States, Britain, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Poland, and Romania.

U.S. aircraft including F-15C Eagle fighter planes and C-130J Super Hercules military transport planes and drones will train with about 30 Ukrainian aircraft, the ministry said on October 8.

The aim is “to enhance regional capabilities to secure air sovereignty and promote peace and security through cooperation,” a U.S. Air Force statement said.