French defense minister acknowledges discussions on training of Ukrainian pilots

By Feiza Ben Mohamed

NICE, France (AA) – Discussions on training of Ukrainian pilots on fighter jets by France are continuing, the French defense minister has said.

Sebastien Lecornu in a Senate briefing on Wednesday did not confirm the dispatch of aircraft to Kyiv and the training of pilots, but said there are discussions with the Ukrainians, broadcaster BFMTV reported.

He cited President Emmanuel Macron that nothing is excluded when it comes to military support for Ukraine, but said urgency is in the supply of ammunition.

After securing battle tanks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked the West for fighter jets to defend its skies against Russian attacks.

In January, addressing at the French National Assembly as part of his visit to Paris, Ruslan Stefanchuk, the head of Ukrainian parliament, called on French lawmakers to provide more weapons to Ukraine, including the French Leclerc tanks, Mirage 2000 and Rafale fighter jets.

*Writing by Nur Asena Erturk in Ankara