French Defence Minister does not rule out training of Ukrainian pilots

Sébastien Lecornu, the French Minister of Defence, said that "nothing is ruled out" in the matter of training Ukrainian pilots on Western fighter jets in France.

Source: This was said in an interview with Le Parisien, reports European Pravda. 

Speaking on the possible provision of Western fighter jets to Ukraine, Lecornu reiterated that "there are no taboos for France in this matter, and our analysis criteria are well known."

"The transfer of aircraft involves very complex logistical and practical issues. Ukraine's request is a crucial need to protect its skies, as well as air defence systems,in which France is the leader, and is part of the same logic: to create a "protective bubble" around the battlefield or [Ukrainian – ed.] cities", he noted.

So far, only Great Britain has announced that it will start training Ukrainian pilots on Western-made fighter jets.

France has its own Rafale fighter jets, the transfer of which would not require the consent of another country — as it is in the case with the F-16s, which are manufactured in the United States.

At the end of January, the French authorities confirmed that they would consider Ukraine's request to train fighter pilots.

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