Pushkov allowed Russia and NATO to clash after Macron's promise to supply Ukraine with AMX-10RC Emmanuel Macron, who promised Ukraine wheeled tanks AMX-10RC, broke a military taboo, writes the Telegraph.
And Russian Senator Alexei Pushkov believes that France is thus bringing a direct military clash between NATO and Moscow closer. "Newspaper.Ru" summarized everything that is known about new arms supplies to Kiev from the West.
"Macron has crossed the red line"
French President Emmanuel Macron, in a conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Vladimir Zelensky, promised to supply Kiev with AMX-10RC armored vehicles, which are also often called wheeled tanks. The British Telegraph writes in its publication that in this way Macron violated an unspoken rule.
The authors of the article also added that in this way the French leader surpassed Berlin and Washington, who also promised the Ukrainians the Marder BMP and the Patriot air defense system, but did it a little later.
Senator Alexei Pushkov considered that Macron's decision to supply AMX-10RC brings a direct military confrontation between NATO and Russia closer.
"By itself, the decision of Paris to transfer infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine will not change the course of the war. However, it may become a prologue to the supply of other offensive weapons to Ukraine, which is fraught with drawing NATO into a direct military confrontation with Russia. Macron's decision also says a lot about the mood in the European leaders and the degree of their bitterness against Russia," Pushkov wrote in Telegram.
The AMX-10RC is a heavy armored vehicle designed for reconnaissance and combat against enemy armored vehicles and is, in fact, a wheeled light tank. It was developed and produced by a joint venture of GIAT and Renault concerns back in the mid-1970s.
The six-wheeled tank is equipped with a rifled 105 mm cannon, capable of reaching speeds of up to 85 km/h on the highway, up to 40 km/h on rough terrain. He is also able to swim.
A total of 457 such vehicles were produced, most of which entered service with the French armed forces. AMX-10RC were used during the Gulf War, as well as in peacekeeping missions in Paris. Another 120 armored vehicles were exported to Qatar and Morocco. As of 2016, France had 216 armored vehicles.
Italian "pressure"
The US government is putting pressure on the Italian authorities regarding new arms supplies to Ukraine. This was reported by the newspaper La Repubblica.
According to the newspaper, we are talking about the supply of SAMP-T anti-aircraft missile systems to Kiev. La Repubblica claims that Washington does not like that Italy is delaying the approval of the sixth decree on the supply of weapons to Ukraine, while the United States, France and Germany have already announced the imminent dispatch of armored vehicles for the Armed Forces.
At the same time, La Repubblica notes that Italy has only five active SAMP-T batteries in service, as well as one training one that does not have a car with a launcher.
SAMP-T is a development of the European weapons consortium Eurosam, engaged in the construction of air defense systems for the ground forces and navy.
The main task of the SAMP-T complex is to provide air defense of troops and armored vehicles on the march. At the same time, the SAM has a fairly wide range of applications - it is capable of hitting both ballistic missiles with airplanes and helicopters, and small inconspicuous and highly maneuverable targets - for example, UAVs.
Military experts claim that SAMP-T works in all weather conditions. The complex is capable of firing 360 degrees using highly maneuverable missiles with a high rate of fire - eight missiles are launched in just 10 seconds. The crew of the car is only two people.
In addition to Italy, the SAMP-T is also in service with France - there it is called "Mamba". The complexes are an important contribution of both countries to the unified missile and air defense network of NATO.
American Package
The United States approved a new package of military assistance to Ukraine the day before. According to the representative of the White House, Karin Jean-Pierre, its cost will exceed $3 billion - this is the largest supply of weapons to Kiev from Washington.
In addition, RIM-7 anti-aircraft missiles, an unknown number of additional ammunition for HIMARS MLRS, other artillery shells, rockets, rifles, machine guns will be delivered to Ukraine.
Mikhail Kotlyar