France wants to train Ukrainian pilots on combat aircraft. The basics of training for fighter pilots are the same worldwide, it was said on Saturday in Hiroshima, Japan, from circles of the French presidential palace. The challenge, however, is that French pilot training is French-speaking and therefore requires Ukrainians who speak French in addition to English. They are currently working with the Ukrainians on the issue, it said. The complete training of an inexperienced soldier to become a fighter pilot takes at least four years.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the allies at the G7 summit for basically clearing the way for the supply of fighter jets. "I'm very happy," he told ZDF on Saturday. The decision will help the people of Ukraine to protect their homes and families.

Zelensky made it clear that he did not expect a timely delivery. "I don't think the decision means we're going to have all these defenses tomorrow. We have to prepare. But still, it's a great decision."

The G7 countries Great Britain and France, together with other allies, had previously announced the formation of an alliance to support Ukraine with fighter jets. The U.S. cleared the way for this by giving the green light for the training of pilots on American F-16 fighter jets - and also wants to enable the delivery of aircraft of this type to Ukraine.

According to French sources, Ukrainian fighter pilots trained on Soviet models only need four to nine months to deal with a Western aircraft model, depending on the level of skill they want to achieve. It was also emphasized that Ukraine could ultimately be supplied with fighter jets other than F-16s. The F-16 is more of a symbol of a type of weapon like the Leopard tank, it said.

In addition, it was emphasized in circles of the Élysée Palace that Western fighter jets were no guarantee of success in the war. "They can have F-16s without end and lose the war if they don't have the other necessary things," it said.

French President Emmanuel Macron had already held out the prospect of training Ukrainian pilots for fighter jets last Monday. In recent days, the UK, the Netherlands and the United States have also announced their participation in a fighter jet coalition for Ukraine.