Promise comes after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy makes a shock go to to Paris after securing $3b in navy help from Germany.
France has promised to ship dozens extra mild tanks and armoured automobiles to Ukraine and supply the required coaching for the nation’s troopers to make use of them successfully.
The announcement got here after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy flew into France late on Sunday to affix French President Emmanuel Macron for a working dinner on the Elysee Palace in Paris.
“Within the coming weeks, France will practice and equip a number of battalions with tens of armoured automobiles and light-weight tanks together with AMX-10RC,” the 2 leaders mentioned in a joint assertion on Monday after some three hours of talks.
Paris would additionally focus its efforts “in supporting Ukraine’s air defence capacities in an effort to defend its inhabitants towards Russian strikes”.
The assertion additionally warned of enhanced sanctions.
“Ukraine and France agree on the necessity to improve collective strain on Russia by means of additional sanctions to weaken Russia’s skill to proceed its unlawful conflict of aggression.”
The go to to Paris was a part of Zelenskyy’s whirlwind weekend tour of a number of key European allies to drum up navy and monetary assist forward of an anticipated main Ukrainian counteroffensive towards Russian forces.
After securing a new $3bn navy package deal from Germany, Zelenskyy mentioned in Berlin on Sunday that Kyiv and its allies may make a Russian defeat “irreversible” as early as this 12 months.
In Paris, Macron reaffirmed that France will proceed to offer political, monetary, humanitarian and navy assist to Ukraine for so long as crucial, the assertion mentioned.
A supply on the French presidency instructed reporters that extra, extra trendy defence programs could be made accessible to Ukraine.
“Paris. With every go to, Ukraine’s defence and offensive capabilities are increasing,” Zelenskyy tweeted as he flew into the Villacoublay airbase on Sunday.
“The ties with Europe are getting stronger, and the strain on Russia is rising.”
The French AMX-10RCs automobiles have excessive pace and manoeuvrability, permitting them to maneuver rapidly on the battlefield and alter positions.
Ukraine’s Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov known as them a “sniper rifle on … quick wheels.”