In an interview with Ouest France, the President of the Republic confirmed arms supplies to Ukraine, including Caesar guns and anti-tank missiles from Milan.
Since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, France has always refused to specify what type of armaments it sent to Kiev. The secret has just been revealed by Emmanuel Macron. In an interview on West Franceadmits the presidential candidate that he supplied Milan anti-tank missiles and Caesar cannons.
“We are still supplying substantial equipment, from Milan to Caesars and different kinds of weapons,” said Emmanuel Macron, adding: “I think we should continue on this path. Always with a red line, which does not involve complicity”.
Asked by AFP, the Elysée did not specify the number of Milan missiles and Caesar guns delivered, so as not to provide “operational information” that could be used by the Russian military. BFM Business has contacted the Armed Forces General Staff to find out more. We have not yet received a response.
An Elysian source specifies that the Milan “have already been given” by specifying that these “several dozen weapons” were taken from the stocks of the French army. Delivery of the Caesars is “in full swing and will be delivered in the coming days” as well as “thousands of shells,” according to the Elysée.
According to the website Meta Defense, less than 10 Caesar artillery systems could be donated to Kiev. They will not be taken from the stock of the French armies, but from the order placed by Morocco for 36 guns. France is said to have agreed to pay fines for late deliveries to Rabat.
Ukrainian soldiers trained in France
In addition, some 40 Ukrainian soldiers are also to be trained in France from Saturday, the presidency added without further details.
Regarding the sending of tanks, Emmanuel Macron stated that “some countries have made this choice”.
“It is a debate at the heart of German political life, it is a choice that belongs sovereignly to Germany and that we respect. We have the same strategy with the Chancellor, which is: we must help the people as much as possible. Ukrainians, but we must be careful that we are never co-belligerent”.
On April 13, the Ministry of the Armed Forces stated in a press release that deliveries of military equipment to Ukraine amounted to 100 million euros.
Green light for heavy weapons
Last March, Alexis Corbière, the insurgent deputy of Seine-Saint-Denis, guest of France Info, was questioned about arms deliveries from France to Ukraine. He had dropped that it was “a few body armor and a few anti-tank missiles” that sparked a controversy over a breach of a classified defense secret.
The French army has 76 Caesars. This truck mounted 155mm gun with a range of 40 kilometers has also been exported to Saudi Arabia, Denmark, Indonesia, Morocco, Czech Republic and Thailand.
Several NATO countries have already given the green light for heavy weapons deliveries, such as the United States, Great Britain, the Czech Republic or the Netherlands. On Thursday, the United States announced additional US aid to Ukraine of $800 million, including 72 howitzers and their vehicles, as well as 144,000 shells.
“It’s important, because of the nature of the fighting we’re expecting in Donbass, because of the terrain, because it’s open, because it’s flat, because it’s not that urbanized,” explains Pentagon spokesman John Kirby. “We think it will be a force multiplier” for the Ukrainians.
Germany has pledged to help the Eastern European allies supplying Kiev with Soviet-made weapons, which are also used by the Ukrainian military, by replacing the equipment they will supply.
