Ukrainian pilots to start training in France next year
Illustrative photo (Photo: Getty Images)
Ukrainian Armed Forces pilots will begin arriving in France next year to undergo training as part of military assistance, according to the French Ministry of Defense.
"On May 15, 2023, the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, announced that France had offered Ukraine the opportunity to train fighter pilots in collaboration with several European partners," the message stated.
The Ministry specified that the first Ukrainian pilots would arrive in early 2024.
"After the initial training conducted in France, they will continue their training in fighter aviation under the guidance of our partners," added the French Ministry of Defense.
Ukrainian pilots and French aircraft
Earlier, there was information in the media that Ukrainian pilots were allegedly undergoing training on Mirage 2000 in France. Later, Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat refuted such information.
Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov stated that Mirage 2000 fighters did not meet several important characteristics considered a priority for Ukraine.
In early September, it became known that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had agreed with President Emmanuel Macron on the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighters.
