French President Emmanuel Macron announced this Friday the creation of a “special fund” to allow Ukraine to do this “Buy directly” from French industry “the equipment it needs most” to defend itself against Russia.
“We will initially endow this fund with 100 million euros,” which will allow “to be able to work with the French defense industrial base,” he told the press in Prague at the end of an informal summit of European Union (EU) leaders. ).
These funds fund the purchase of “defense weapons” as France has been delivering since the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine in February, the head of state said.
France has so far delivered to Ukraine 18 Caesar caliber 155mm guns with a range of 40 kilometers, mounted on trucks, antitank and antiaircraft missiles, advanced armored vehicles (VAB), fuel, individual equipment and about 15 TRF1 caliber 155mm guns.
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There is a clear reaffirmed will to support Ukraine in this time of war, to continue to help it with our budget support, to prepare for reconstruction or with our military support,” stressed Macron.
The French president also confirmed that France plans to deliver six more Caesar guns to Ukraine from an order from Denmark.
“We are in talks with our Danish partners to deliver the Caesars, but it is a discussion that has certain technical aspects and is being finalized,” he said.
“In any case, we are ready for this, we are ready to provide cofinancing that would allow us to deliver several units of this Caesar artillery system that has proven its effectiveness in the field,” he added.