In an interview with the Journal du Dimanche (JDD), the Armed Forces Minister takes stock of France’s aid to Ukraine. Paris is one of the largest contributors with 550 million euros out of a total of 3 billion euros.
France’s support for Ukraine is unwavering. This is the message of Sébastien Lecornu, Minister of the Armed Forces, in an interview published in the JDD. He also assures that the arms deliveries, the value of which has so far amounted to 550 million euros, will continue.
“If we add up all of our military aid, we’re in the top five countries. We are one of the largest contributors, with EUR 550 million out of a total of EUR 3 billion,” specifies Sébastien Lecornu.
This 5th place would be new. According to the IfW, France was in 8th place behind Norway, Poland, Canada, Germany and Great Britain in October. At the top of this ranking is the United States with aid of $52.3 billion.
A maintenance workshop in Slovakia
From the beginning of the conflict, France sent equipment to Kyiv, including 18 Caesar guns from army stocks. According to a video posted on social networks, a Caesar would have been destroyed by a Russian strike. This information was not confirmed to us by the General Staff of the French Armies. But the destroyed howitzer could be salvaged and used to repair others.
A logistics location in Slovakia will go into operation in a few weeks. Led by KNDS, its role is to carry out maintenance work, but also to service equipment manufactured by its two subsidiaries, KMW and Nexter.
“Its mission will be the rapid maintenance and repair of vehicles, including the PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer, the Caesar wheeled howitzer, the Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft gun and the Mars II artillery-missile system, as well as the Dingo armored transport vehicle,” KDNS said in a statement.
A request for speed cameras “under review”
If the Caesars are the best known, France has provided other gear: Milan rocket and Mistral, about sixty VABs (Front Armored Vehicles), HDP-2A2 anti-tank mines, NRBC (nuclear, radiological, biological and chemical) protection, latest generation night vision goggles. She also promised to send TRF1 rifled guns.
“We keep everything we promise,” says Sébastien Lecornu.
In recent deliveries, Kyiv received from France two Crotale missile batteries for surface-to-air defense and two multiple rocket launchers (LRU) for low-land attacks. According to the minister, the Ukrainian army is demanding radar devices. This request is “in progress”.
A support fund of 200 million euros was also approved by Parliament. It allows Ukrainians to place orders for equipment with French companies or to ensure the upkeep and maintenance of systems that have already been delivered. This could also be used to buy “Bastion vehicles or floating bridges,” says Sébastien Lecornu.
In addition to this financial and material help, France has decided to train Ukrainian soldiers. Until then, the details of this support had not been specified.
“First of all, our goal is to support 2,000 of the 15,000 people proposed by the European Union. 400 Ukrainian soldiers have already received training, in particular on the equipment we have supplied,” reveals the minister.
