French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a plan to provide Ukraine with Mirage 2000 fighter jets and pilot training.

Macron revealed the plan in an interview with a local TV station on Thursday. He said Ukrainian pilots will be trained in France as early as this summer.

The French-developed Mirage 2000 is considered a fourth-generation fighter jet, similar to the F-16. Its developer says 600 planes have been produced, with some exported to Taiwan, India and other places.

France follows several other countries in showing support for strengthening Ukraine's air force capabilities. Nations including the Netherlands and Denmark have announced plans to provide F-16 fighter jets, while Sweden has pledged airborne surveillance and control aircraft.

The French president also proposed training 4,500 Ukrainian soldiers to form a new brigade. But he did not provide details, such as whether French instructors would be sent to Ukraine.

Macron says he will announce the specifics of the new assistance on Friday, when he meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.