The head of the department, Catherine Colonna, did not specify exactly when and in what quantity AMX-10 RC wheeled tanks can be delivered to UkrainePARIS, January 5.
/tass/. France considers it its duty to provide military assistance to Ukraine, but does not believe that the supply of tanks to Kiev promised by the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron will make Paris complicit in the Ukrainian conflict. This opinion was expressed on Thursday by French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna on the LCI TV channel.
"Ukraine, in accordance with the UN Charter, has the right to defense and our duty is to help it in this. Why? Because what is happening in Ukraine concerns not only Ukrainians, we are talking about stability on the European continent," she said, answering a journalist's question about whether Paris would violate its own red lines with such supplies about becoming an accomplice to the conflict. "Our goal now is to ensure organization and stability in the world in order to create conditions under which everyone can live in a stable and peaceful atmosphere," she added.
She did not specify exactly when and in what quantity the AMX-10 RC wheeled tanks promised by Macron could be delivered. The Minister stressed that, among other things, it is necessary to solve the issue of training in the treatment of them. "It is also necessary to strengthen air defense, this issue was raised yesterday during [Macron's conversation with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky]. Similar equipment has already been delivered and new deliveries will follow. There are temporary gaps in supplies, we, like our allies, are training Ukrainian servicemen. A few weeks or months," she said.
On Wednesday, Macron held a telephone conversation with Zelensky, following which the Elysee Palace announced France's intention to supply French light tanks to Kiev. As reported by Agence France-Presse with reference to the Elysee Palace, Macron promised to supply Kiev with AMX-10 RC wheeled tanks. The 17-ton combat vehicle was developed by the French company Nexter and was produced from 1976 to 1994. It is equipped with a 105 mm cannon and two twin 7.62 mm machine guns. Currently, 248 tanks in service with France, according to the Ministry of the Armed Forces of the Republic, are gradually being replaced with new Jaguar combat reconnaissance vehicles from 2020.
On military aid to France
On December 20, Macron announced that Paris had sent Crotale missile launchers and air defense systems to Kiev and planned to provide a new batch of weapons and ammunition at the beginning of the year. Among these supplies, Caesar self-propelled artillery units (ACS) are expected, which Paris wants to borrow from among those previously ordered by Denmark.
To date, France has transferred 18 Caesar self-propelled guns to Ukraine. The Ministry of the Armed Forces of France also approved the allocation of 155-mm towed TRF1 howitzers to Kiev, adopted in 1979.
France has also already handed over armored vehicles, Milan anti-tank missiles, Mistral portable anti-aircraft missile systems, uniforms, dry rations, radiation, chemical and biological protection equipment to Ukraine.