Global Courant 2023-05-15 06:15:37
Promise comes after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy makes a surprise visit to Paris after securing $3 billion in military aid from Germany.
France has promised to send dozens more light tanks and armored vehicles to Ukraine and provide the country’s soldiers with the necessary training to use them effectively.
The announcement came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy flew to France late on Sunday to join French President Emmanuel Macron for a working dinner at the Elysee Palace in Paris.
“In the coming weeks, France will train and equip several battalions with dozens of armored vehicles and light tanks, including AMX-10RC,” the two leaders said in a joint statement on Monday after talking for about three hours.
Paris would also concentrate its efforts “on supporting Ukraine’s air defense capabilities to defend its population against Russian attacks”.
The statement also warned of tougher sanctions.
“Ukraine and France agree on the need to step up collective pressure on Russia through further sanctions to weaken Russia’s ability to continue its illegal war of aggression.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Paris after a trip to Germany, where he bagged a new $3 billion military package (Ludovic Marin/AFP)
The visit to Paris was part of Zelenskyy’s whirlwind weekend tour of several key European allies to rally military and financial support ahead of an expected major Ukrainian counter-offensive against Russian forces.
After Zelenskyy secured a new $3 billion military package from Germany, Zelenskyy said in Berlin on Sunday that Kiev and its allies could make a Russian defeat “irreversible” as early as this year.
In Paris, Macron reaffirmed that France will continue to provide political, financial, humanitarian and military support to Ukraine for as long as necessary, the statement said.
A source with the French presidency told reporters that additional, more modern defense systems would be made available to Ukraine.
“Paris. With each visit, Ukraine’s defense and offensive capabilities expand,” Zelenskyy tweeted as he flew into Villacoublay Air Base on Sunday.
“Ties with Europe are getting stronger and pressure on Russia is increasing.”
The French AMX-10RCs vehicles have high speed and maneuverability, allowing them to move quickly on the battlefield and change position.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov called them a “sniper rifle on … fast wheels”.
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