Macron: France to 'intensify' military, humanitarian aid to Ukraine
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Paris will be sending its cutting-edge Caesar canons.
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Macron: France to 'intensify' military, humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
Following a discussion with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron stated on Saturday that France would "intensify" its supply of military and humanitarian aid.
Zelensky praised France for "large-scale military shipments that help to the Ukrainian resistance," Macron said, adding that "this support, as well as the humanitarian assistance supplied by France, will continue to expand."
"The mission of French experts contributing to the collection of evidence to fight against impunity and allow the work of international justice concerning crimes committed in the context of the Russian aggression will continue," he said.
Hundreds of long-range artillery pieces have been delivered to Kiev by the United States, France, the Czech Republic, and other allies to help it oppose Moscow's advance in the Donbass. Paris is sending its cutting-edge Caesar canons.
According to the French presidency, help to Ukraine totaled "more than 615 tonnes of equipment, including medical equipment, generators for hospitals, food aid, shelter aid, and emergency vehicles."
Macron, who was just re-elected, stated that he intends to "work vigorously throughout his second term to restore Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, while always maintaining strong collaboration with its European partners and friends."
This comes after France announced sending several heavy artillery pieces to Ukraine, amid a heavy flow of Western weapons to arm Kiev in the face of Russia in light of the ongoing war in the country.
"We are delivering significant equipment, from Milan (anti-tank missiles) to Caesar (self-propelled howitzers)," Macron told regional newspaper Ouest-France.
"I think we have to continue on this route. Always with the red line that we will not become parties to the conflict," he claimed despite backing one party against the other.
France will send "several Caesar artillery cannons and thousands of shells," Defense Minister Florence Parly confirmed on Twitter.
Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron avoided defining "red lines" when it came to the war in Ukraine.
"Saying what will mark as a red line means saying how to respond to [violations] and where," Macron told France 5 broadcaster when he was asked about a "red line" regarding allegations that Russia has used chemical weapons in Ukraine.
Macron said that for a country to draw a red line, the country has to officially become an ally of the party to the conflict and "enter the war with Russia."
"It should be calculated; it is a responsibility that we will not take on so lightly," he added.
