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In a significant show of support for Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on June 6 that France will train thousands of Ukrainian soldiers to aid in their battle against Russia.
In an interview Macron stressed the necessity of supporting Ukraine's sovereignty. He revealed that France will also supply Ukraine with 5 Mirage 2000 fighter jets, with training programs set to be in place by the end of 2024.
"We propose training 4,500 Ukrainian soldiers," Macron stated, clarifying that the training will take place in France, not on Ukrainian soil.
"Ukrainian territory is sovereign. It is not about going to train soldiers in the conflict zone. But when Ukraine has a challenge ahead, we must answer it as we did every time."
Macron reiterated that France is not at war with Russia or its population and is not seeking escalation. He affirmed that France's support is a response to Ukraine's needs and challenges, maintaining a stance of defensive aid rather than offensive engagement.
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