France plans to study the issue of training pilots of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) to control Western fighters. On Monday, January 30, the Politico newspaper wrote, citing Sebastien Lecornu, Assistant French Defense Minister.
“I heard that many experts speak highly of French aircraft and their pilots. Of course, I would be very happy if Ukrainian pilots could be trained to fly French aircraft and use this experience to ensure victory,” said Lecornu.
According to the head of the French defense department, this week he will discuss the idea of training Ukrainian pilots during a telephone conversation with the Minister of Defense of Ukraine.
Earlier that day, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the possibility of Western countries supplying fighter jets to Ukraine. However, he stressed that the transfer of such weapons should not lead to an escalation of the conflict.
At a joint press conference with Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte noted that Amsterdam is ready to consider the supply of F-16 fighter jets to Kyiv. Rutte, he added that such a request from Ukraine has not yet been received.
It also became known that the deputy from the Social Democratic Party of Germany Ralf Stegner supported the refusal of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to provide Ukraine with fighter jets and other offensive weapons. On the eve of Scholz said that Germany is not even considering the supply of fighter jets to Ukraine. According to the German leader, Berlin will not allow an escalation between Russia and NATO.
On January 26, it became known that a number of Western countries are discussing a possible early delivery of modern fighter jets for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). However, many politicians fear the threat of an escalation of the conflict.
A day earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kyiv expects to receive combat aircraft, artillery and long-range missiles from the West. He stressed that the partners “should expand our cooperation in the field of artillery, we must go to the supply of aircraft for Ukraine.”
Western countries have stepped up military and financial support for Ukraine against the backdrop of Russia’s special operation to protect Donbass, which the Russian authorities announced amid the aggravation of the situation in the region due to Ukrainian shelling.
