Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Death toll from latest Israeli strikes on Gaza rises to 30
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Five killed in the Israeli bombing of a civilian vehicle on Al-Qassam Street in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip
Hamas confirms that it has no connection to the shooting incident in Rafah and affirms its commitment to the ceasefire agreement
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two civilians were killed and four others, including a child and an infant, were injured in an Israeli bombing of a house belonging to the Al-Banna family in the al-Sabra neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli airstrike targets the vicinity of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, west of Gaza City
Al-Qassam: We will postpone the handover of the body of the Israeli captive we found, which was scheduled for today, due to the occupation's violations
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Israeli occupation aircraft launch airstrikes on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip
Netanyahu's office: At the end of the security consultations, the prime minister instructed the military to launch massive military strikes on the Gaza Strip immediately
President Aoun: We urge the activation of the monitoring committee, the cessation of hostilities, ongoing Israeli violations, attacks
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to US Envoy Morgan Ortagus: Southerners must be enabled to return to their homes and rebuild

Paris to send more Caesar truck-mounted howitzers to Kiev: Minister

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 31 Jan 2023 21:04
4 Min Read

The French Defense Minister says a new batch of howitzers would be delivered to Ukraine in the coming weeks.

  • x
  • In this file photo taken on December 28, 2022, Ukrainian servicemen fire with a CAESAR self-propelled howitzer towards Russian positions in eastern Ukraine. SAMEER AL-DOUMY / AFP
    Ukrainian troops fire with a Caesar self-propelled howitzer, Dec 28, 2022 (AFP)

French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu confirmed on Tuesday that France will send 12 more Caesar truck-mounted howitzers to Ukraine.

The artillery pieces, adding to 18 already delivered, would be financed from a 200-million-euro ($217-million) fund that France set up to fund arms for Kiev, Lecornu indicated in a joint Paris press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Oleksiy Reznikov.

The French Minister said the new batch of howitzers would be delivered in the coming weeks.

Denmark has also pledged its entire 19-strong fleet of French-made howitzers to Ukraine.

France was by early December the 7th-largest supporter of Ukraine since the war broke out, according to data on military and financial aid collated by the Germany-based Institute for the World Economy think-tank -- not yet taking into account major announcements of military equipment last month.

But European donors remain far short of the United States' military aid commitments.

Read more: France, Australia to jointly produce Ukraine-bound 155mm ammo

Ukraine to receive between 120 and 140 heavy Western tanks

In a related context, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Tuesday that Kiev was expecting up to 140 heavy tanks.

"Ukraine's armed forces will receive between 120 and 140 modern Western tanks," Kuleba told reporters, describing the figure as the "first wave of contributions."

Related News

French socialist leader threatens no-confidence vote over wealth tax

French wealthy move billions abroad fearing Macron taxes

"These are Leopard 2, Challenger 2, M1 Abrams," he indicated, without specifying a timeline for the deliveries.

"We are very much counting on the Leclerc, too," the Ukrainian Minister noted, referring to the French battle tank.

According to Kuleba, 12 countries have agreed to provide Ukraine with tanks.

After weeks of deliberations, the US and Germany announced last week the deliveries of their heavy Abrams and Leopard tanks to Ukraine.

Kiev in negotiations to receive fighter jets, long-range missiles

Elsewhere, Kuleba said Kiev was in negotiations to receive Western fighter jets and long-range missiles.

However, on Monday, US President Joe Biden followed the lead of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and claimed that he will not be sending fighter jets to Ukraine.

"No," Biden said when asked by reporters at the White House if he was in favor of sending F-16 fighters, which Ukraine's leaders have said are at the top of their latest weapons wish list.

On the other hand, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki pointed out that Poland can hand over its F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine only in coordination with other NATO partners.

On his part, French President Emmanuel Macron said he would not rule out France delivering fighter jets to Ukraine but warned against the risk of escalation in the conflict.

However, Macron set out a series of "criteria" before making any decision. These included that Ukraine must first make the request, that any arms would "not be escalatory," and that they would "not be likely to hit Russian soil but purely to aid the resistance effort."

The French President noted that the Ukrainians "are not making this request at the moment for fighter jets."

It is noteworthy that even though the West has not yet decided on the deliveries of fighter jets, Ukraine has already compiled a list of some 50 pilots, who are ready to start training on F-16s, speak English, and have a track record of "thousands of combat missions," Politico revealed, citing a Pentagon official and a Ukrainian official, as well as three other people familiar with the matter.

Read more: Scholz fails during South American tour to gather support for Ukraine

  • Sebastien Lecornu
  • Caesar tanker
  • France
  • Oleksiy Reznikov
  • Kiev
  • Ukraine
  • Dmytro Kuleba
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?

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Members of the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, and Egyptian workers search for the bodies of hostages in a tunnel discovered during searches in Hamad City, Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' obstructing Gaza body recovery, creating false claims: Hamas

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawwaf Salam talks to US Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus at the Grand Serail in Beirut, Lebanon, October 28, 2025 (NNA)
Politics

Salam conveys to Ortagus goals behind any possible negotiations

Writers boycott NYT, demand justice as Gaza media ban faces court
Politics

300+ writers boycott NYT Opinion, cite persistent anti-Palestine bias

Settlers attack West Bank olive harvesters, Injure 3 Palestinians
Politics

Settlers attack West Bank olive harvesters, injure 3 Palestinians

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

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