![]() Several high-ranking French officers said that although Paris has boosted military spending in recent years, set to reach 44 billion euros in 2023, its stocks of equipment remain limited.įrance has increased military spending but arms production can be slow and costly Ludovic MARIN AFP/File "It's not a lack of political will, perhaps it's political prudence about our own security, our own defence." "If we give them away, if we tap into our reserves, we're causing big headaches for ourselves," she added. Meanwhile the Ukrainians have shown they can quickly learn to use Western-made arms, rather than the Soviet stocks from former Warsaw Pact countries prioritised early in the conflict.īut that leaves the fact that "the weapons we have here ready to use are the weapons supposed to ensure our national defence," Matelly said. Initial fears that arms deliveries might make Russia see Ukraine's backers as parties to the war have faded, said Sylvie Matelly, deputy director of France's Institute for International and Strategic Studies (IRIS). President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday at a European gathering in Prague that France plans to deliver more of the mobile artillery pieces.įurther guns could be diverted to Ukraine from a Danish order, a source familiar with the deal told AFP. It has also sent 18 of its prized truck-mounted CAESAR cannons, which are able to set up, fire a highly-accurate volley at ranges of up to 40 kilometres (25 miles) and shift position before the enemy can locate them and fire back. ![]() ![]() Publicly-known shipments include anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles, armoured personnel carriers, fuel, infantry gear and towed artillery cannons. President Emmanuel Macron has pledged continuing support for Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelensky Ludovic MARIN POOL/AFP/File
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