France has given Ukraine dozens of additional light tanks and armored vehicles, as well as the training to properly operate them. The Ukrainian president made the statement after flying to France to have dinner with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, at the Elysee Palace on Sunday night. After three hours of negotiations on Monday, the two leaders issued a joint statement saying, “In the coming weeks, France will train and equip several battalions with tens of armored vehicles and light tanks, including AMX-10RC.”
France’s priority would be “in supporting Ukraine’s air defense capacities in order to defend its population against Russian strikes.” The message also included a threat of harsher punishment. According to a joint statement from the Ukrainian and French governments, “Ukraine and France agree on the need to increase collective pressure on Russia through further sanctions to weaken Russia’s ability to continue its illegal war of aggression.” In preparation for a significant Ukrainian counteroffensive against Russian soldiers, Zelenskyy spent the weekend visiting several key European partners, including France. Zelenskyy, speaking in Berlin on Sunday after receiving a new $3 billion military package from Germany, stated that Kiev and its allies might make a Russian loss “irreversible” as soon as this year. According to the statement, Macron reiterated France’s commitment to providing Ukraine with political, financial, humanitarian, and military help in Paris.
Reporters were told by a source in the French administration that the country will provide Ukraine with more, cutting-edge defensive equipment. “Paris. Zelenskyy tweeted as he landed at the Villacoublay airbase on Sunday, “With each visit, Ukraine’s defense and offensive capabilities are expanding.” The pressure on Russia is increasing as connections with Europe strengthen. French AMX-10RC vehicles are fast and highly maneuverable, enabling for rapid positioning and movement on the battlefield. They were described as “sniper rifles on… fast wheels” by Ukraine’s defense minister, Oleksii Reznikov.
