Macron visits Ukrainian soldiers undergoing training in France
Macron was accompanied by French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu and Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.
"I want to wish you success! For our part, we will make every effort to prepare you as best as possible," Macron said.
For more than half an hour, he talked with the Ukrainian military, came up to each of them and asked where exactly they had fought and how much and what kind of training they lacked.
Macron also published footage from the Ukrainian brigade's exercises on his X account.
Я взяв на себе це зобов’язання: зараз наші військові навчають 2300 українських солдатів у Гранд-Есті, з обладнанням, яке вони використовуватимуть під час місій.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) October 9, 2024
Бригада Анни Київської буде навчена та оснащена завдяки солідарності Франції. pic.twitter.com/6ewiQgqBk2
About 2,300 Ukrainian military personnel are currently undergoing training in France. They will form three infantry battalions and auxiliary units - engineering, artillery, reconnaissance, ground and air surveillance. In order to complete the training and bring the number of the brigade up to 4,500 people, the rest should be trained in Ukraine.
According to the French side, after the exercises are completed, the brigade will be fully equipped with 128 armored fighting vehicles, 18 Caesar guns, 18 AMX10RC armored vehicles, 10 TRMs - special vehicles for difficult road conditions - and 20 anti-tank missile launchers. France will also provide the Ukrainians with air-to-ground ammunition.
The French president earlier announced his intention to prepare and equip a full Ukrainian infantry brigade of 4,500 soldiers during the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Paris on June 7.
