France to transfer decommissioned military equipment to Ukraine - Defense Ministry
File photo: Minister of the Armed Forces of France Sébastien Lecornu (Getty Images)
France will be transferring decommissioned military equipment to Ukraine instead of simply disposing of it, announced the Minister of the Armed Forces of France, Sébastien Lecornu.
The journalist clarified that there is some criticism in France regarding the supply of weapons withdrawn from national stocks. The minister responded that the criticism varies.
"From those who think we are giving too much, and from those who think we are not giving enough. We clearly see that we are talking somewhat superficially, and sometimes even politicized, because the European election campaign has begun," the minister said.
He further clarified that there is a certain "red line" that he will never cross. It concerns undermining the French defense system.
"As for the weapons we managed to take from our armies, for example, regarding the Caesar guns, they, of course, disrupted the training schedule of our artillerymen, particularly in Canjuers, but other than that, it never undermined our systemic artillery," he explained.
Ukraine will receive decommissioned equipment from France
Lecornu also announced that France will reinvest significant funds in the military, with plans to spend 413 billion euros between 2024 and 2030.
Furthermore, he mentioned that France has a lot of equipment that is still operational but will be phased out in the future. According to the minister, it is better to give this equipment, as well as the machinery, to Ukraine rather than simply dispose of it.
France's assistance to Ukraine
In early February, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal stated that the country intends not only to increase funding for assistance to Ukraine but also to expand the range of weapons provided.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also announced that Ukraine will receive a new package of military aid from France, which will include Caesar artillery systems.
Furthermore, the French government is seeking funds to finance a 3 billion euro package of military assistance to Ukraine after significant cuts in the country's expenditures.
It has recently been revealed that France has invested money and modernized Ukrainian MiG-29 and Su-24M aircraft so that they can use the aerial bombs supplied by Paris to Kyiv.
