" Thank you my friend.
Your leadership brings our victory closer”: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Emmanuel Macron in these terms, on Twitter.
The French president had just announced to him that Paris would deliver French-made “light battle tanks” to Ukraine.
Emmanuel Macron wanted to ““amplify” the military aid already provided to kyiv by agreeing to deliver AMX-10 RC tanks, said the French presidency.
“This is the first time that Western-designed tanks have been supplied to the Ukrainian armed forces,” assured the Elysée after an hour-long phone call between the two leaders.
Had a long and detailed conversation with President of France @EmmanuelMacron on the current situation.
Thanked for the decision to transfer light tanks and Bastion APCs to Ukraine, as well as for intensifying work with partners in the same direction.
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— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 4, 2023
Germany in particular is reluctant to deliver Leopard-2 combat tanks.
Paris, for its part, does not currently intend to supply kyiv with its 56-tonne Leclerc heavy tanks equipped with a gun with a range of 4,000 meters, which the French Army possesses. 200 copies.
But France has deployed thirteen in Romania, to reinforce NATO's eastern border.
“Very mobile”, “old but efficient” tanks
The AMX-10 RC, whose production started in the 1980s, are light tanks weighing nearly 25 tons equipped with 105 mm guns, mounted on wheels and not on tracks, therefore “very mobile”, “certainly old but efficient “, argues an adviser to the Elysée.
The French Army, which has nearly 250 of them, is gradually replacing them with the next-generation Jaguar 25-ton class armored reconnaissance and combat vehicle.
VIDEO.
The presentation by the Army of the AMX 10 RC fire reconnaissance armored vehicle.
The French and Ukrainian Defense Ministers will exchange "very quickly to define the modalities" of these deliveries, both on the deadlines and on the number of tanks, the French Ministry of the Armed Forces told AFP.
The two presidents also discussed the situation on the various military fronts, underlined the Elysée.
French support deemed “too lukewarm” by some
According to Paris, Emmanuel Macron, who reaffirmed to Volodymyr Zelensky the "unwavering support" of France "until victory", thus wanted to "demonstrate the durability and continuity" of French military aid.
Discussions are also continuing between kyiv and Paris on sending other types of armored vehicles "to help them strengthen their protected transport and attack capacities with armored units", it is argued in the entourage. of the French presidency.
Until victory, until peace returns to Europe, our support for Ukraine will not weaken.
I confirmed it to President Zelensky: France will provide light combat tanks and continue its support in terms of air defence.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) January 4, 2023
This announcement comes at a time when some voices in Europe sometimes claim that France provides too lukewarm support to Ukraine.
A ranking by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy in December places France in 10th position, behind the United Kingdom, Poland or Germany, for its military support for kyiv, provided mainly by the United States.
Read alsoAnti-tank missiles and cannons... Macron had detailed the weapons that France delivered to kyiv
Since the beginning of the conflict in February, France has notably provided 18 Caesar guns of 155 mm with a range of 40 km, mounted on trucks, anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles, forward armored vehicles (VAB) , and more recently rocket launchers and Crotale missile batteries.
Paris also plans to supply kyiv with six to twelve additional Caesar guns, taken from an order intended for Denmark.
"We are still in discussion with Denmark, the subject is not closed," commented the Elysee on Wednesday.
