• Ar
  • Es
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Feature
  • Videos
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Feature
Videos
Infographs
In Pictures
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Europe
  4. France sent Ukraine rocket systems, will send more next year: Macron
Europe

France sent Ukraine rocket systems, will send more next year: Macron

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 20 Dec 2022 22:51
  • 2 Shares

The French President says his country has provided Ukraine with more arms, rocket launchers, and Crotale air defence batteries.

  • French President Emmanuel Macron (AFP)
    French President Emmanuel Macron (AFP)

French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that France has delivered rocket launchers and weapons to Ukraine and will send more early next year.

In an interview aired Tuesday on TF1 and LCI television, Macron said that "in recent days, France has sent Ukraine more arms, rocket launchers, Crotale (air defence batteries), equipment beyond what we had already done."

He was speaking aboard the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle off Egypt's coast, a day before visiting Jordan for the Baghdad II conference on Tuesday.

"We are also working with the armed forces minister (Sebastien Lecornu) to be able to deliver useful arms and ammunition again in the first quarter (of 2023), so that the Ukrainians would be able to defend themselves against bombardments," indicated Macron.

The planned shipments include new Caesar mobile artillery units, but the French President provided no precise figures. He pointed out that the number "will depend" on the outcome of ongoing discussions with Denmark, which had ordered the Caesar guns from France and may agree to give at least some of them to Ukraine.

Last week, Macron presented an additional €125 million support package for Ukraine at the start of the "Standing with the Ukrainian People" conference that was held in Paris.

It is noteworthy that since the start of the Ukraine war, France has supplied Ukraine with 18 Caesar units, a 155-mm howitzer mounted on a six-wheeled truck chassis, capable of firing shells at ranges of more than 40 kilometers (25 miles).

Paris has also delivered anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles as well as armored personnel carriers.

In early December, Macron and US President Joe Biden pledged after their meeting in Washington to close ranks in helping Ukraine "defend itself from Russia." The two presidents reaffirmed support for Ukraine and the provision of all forms of assistance to Ukraine "for as long as it takes."

In mid-October, France and Ukraine signed an agreement over security and defense grants. The deal is meant to assist Ukraine's forces in boosting its military capabilities against Russia and set an initial aid amount of €100 million.

In the same context, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said Macron has agreed to train up to 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers in the country, adding that France had already delivered 18 Caesar howitzers to Ukraine and that talks were underway to send six more. 

Macron's "red lines" on arms deliveries

The French President claimed that he had two "red lines" when it came to arms deliveries: that it did not affect France's ability to defend itself and did not make Paris a co-belligerent in the war.

But Bloomberg reported that many European countries are suffering from a shortage in their stocks of ammunition and weapons due to the large supplies to Ukraine.

The European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell considered in early December that the war in Ukraine has depleted the EU's weapon stockpiles, showing that it lacks "critical" capabilities to protect against threats on its border. 

According to Macron, the arms were to "enable Ukraine to defend itself" in the face of Russian missiles and drone attacks.

The French leader repeated his statement that Russia would require security guarantees as part of a negotiated end to the conflict.

"If anyone criticises me for projecting forward to this issue, let them explain what they are proposing," Macron said in the interview.

"What the people who refuse to prepare or work for it are proposing is total war. It will affect the whole continent," he added.

Macron claims that only Ukraine should define the terms of any armistice with Russia, not the country's Western backers.

Read more: French prosecutors search Macron's Renaissance party offices

  • Paris
  • Emmanuel Macron
  • France
  • Kiev
  • Ukraine
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Trending Now

All
Macron numbers surge following stances on Ukraine

Macron numbers surge following stances on Ukraine

Most Read

London posts job ad for mercenaries for Ukraine counteroffensive

London posts job ad for mercenaries for Ukraine's counteroffensive

  • Africa
  • 24 May
The Middle East Stabilises, Against the Backdrop of a Great Unravelling

The Middle East Stabilises, Against the Backdrop of a Great Unravelling

  • Analysis
  • 28 May
The domestically produced C919 passenger jet flies at the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, Peoeple's Republic of China, 8 November 2022. (Reuters)

China is set to launch first commercial flight on its C919 plane

  • Asia
  • 26 May
In this image released by the Italian firefighters, a helicopter searches for missing passengers after a tourist boat capsized in a storm on Italy's Lago Maggiore in the northern Lombardy region, May 28, 2023 (AP)

Top Israeli intelligence official dead in Italy: Israeli media

  • Europe
  • 29 May

Read this

All
In this image released by the Italian firefighters, a helicopter searches for missing passengers after a tourist boat capsized in a storm on Italy's Lago Maggiore in the northern Lombardy region, May 28, 2023 (AP)
Europe

Top Israeli intelligence official dead in Italy: Israeli media

  • 29 May
The Global Campaign to the Return to Palestine honours several "Return Ambassadors" in Beirut, Lebanon, May 29 2023. (@return_ar/Twitter)
Palestine

GCRP honors 'Return Ambassadors' to Palestine in Beirut

  • Today
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, and Minister of Justice Yariv Levin attend a weekly cabinet meeting in the prime minister's office in occupied Al-Quds, occupied Palestine, May 28, 2023 (AP)
Palestine

Let AI replace Netanyahu's government, opposition's Lapid says

  • 29 May
In this picture released by the Iranian Defense Ministry on Thursday, May 25, 2023, Khorramshahr-4 missile is launched at an undisclosed location, Iran (Iranian Defense Ministry via AP)
MENA

Iran set to unveil its first ever hypersonic missile

  • 29 May
Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS