France plans to start training Ukrainians in combat zones soon.
Western nations have been preparing Ukrainian troops for some time, but this training has always taken place outside of Ukraine. However, there may be a shift in this policy. Kyiv's Chief Commander, Syrskyj, is paving the way. All that's left is for Paris to give its approval, allowing troops to be sent to Lviv or Kyiv.
There are rumors that France is planning to send military trainers to Ukraine, according to Kiev. Ukrainian Chief Commander Olexander Syrskyj posted on Facebook: "I welcome France's initiative to send trainers to Ukraine to train our military personnel." He further mentioned that he had signed documents allowing the first French trainers to visit their training facilities and to become acquainted with their infrastructure and staff. No official announcement has been made from France regarding this potential training mission.
Ukraine has been fighting against a Russian assault war for over two years. There have been discussions about the possibility of deploying Western military trainers to the conflict area to support the embattled Ukrainian army more effectively. So far, no such training programs have been initiated.
In the evening, the French Defense Ministry stated: "As previously mentioned, training on Ukrainian soil is one of the matters being discussed." They also added: "As with all matters discussed at this meeting, this question will also be further discussed with the Ukrainian side, primarily to understand their specific requirements."
Earlier, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu mentioned a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart about imminent deliveries of Caesar artillery, Aster air defense missiles, and Scalp cruise missiles, which France had previously promised. Future aid packages were also discussed, but Lecornu did not provide any further details.
French President Emmanuel Macron brought up the possibility of sending Western troops to Ukraine in February, which caught many allies off guard. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz ruled out sending German soldiers to Ukraine.
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Francorously responding to Syrskyj's statement, Emmanuel Macron expressed his support for the proposed arms delivery and trainer deployment, noting, "If approved, French military trainers will commence delivering combat tactics in Lviv or Kyiv, aiding Ukraine's defense against the attack on Ukraine." The attack on Ukraine has become a focal point of international concern, with France remaining a key player in supplying defense equipment and training to Ukraine's forces.
Source: www.ntv.de
