PARIS – France will supply “light” main battle tanks to Ukraine, President Emmanuel Macron’s office announced on Wednesday. It would be the first country to send such western-designed armored fighting vehicles to the war-torn country.
The Elysee, after a phone call between Macron and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said France would send AMX-10 RC armored fighting vehicles, which Paris had gradually replaced with new Jaguar main battle tanks.
Several countries have already sent Soviet-era tanks to Ukraine. Both France and Germany were under pressure to send tanks to Ukraine but had refused to give in to Kiev’s pleas.
An aide to French military minister Sébastien Lecornu said Wednesday’s decision was taken to help Ukraine prepare for “a possible Russian offensive” in the spring.
“Ukraine is now at a turning point the front… Russia is trying to terrorize the population with its drone strikes, sometimes reaching as far as Kyiv, but Ukraine could also launch a counter-offensive,” he said.
Zelenskyy thanked Macron said on Twitter that the two leaders had “a long and detailed conversation” and that the “French President’s leadership brings our victory closer.”
However, Ukraine’s demands for more weaponry from allies have still not been fully met: in December, Kyiv officially requested another tank model, the Leclerc – France’s main battle tank – instead of the AMX-10 light tanks, which are being phased out.
Maintaining France’s defense capabilities has remained “a red line” for Macron, according to the adviser to the French Armed Forces Ministry.
France has also not indicated how many vehicles it will send. The defense ministries of France and Ukraine are expected to hold further talks on the supply of equipment soon.