The AMX-10 light tanks had been promised by France to Ukraine at the beginning of January, but the date of their delivery was not known. Sébastien Lecornu, however, remained discreet about the number of tanks that will be sent.
French tanks soon in Ukraine? The Minister for the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu announced on Saturday in The Parisian that the AMX-10 light tanks, promised by Paris to kyiv, should arrive on the front “next week”. These armored vehicles are a promise from Emmanuel Macron to Ukraine.
“These armored vehicles will be delivered from the end of next week”, assures the minister, specifying that the training of the drivers is “about to be completed”.
Sébastien Lecornu does not give the number of tanks delivered, explaining that he does not want to reveal “strategic information to Russia”. The Élysée announced on January 4 that France was going to deliver AMX-10 tanks to Ukraine. However, the date of this dispatch was not known until now.
Paris does not refrain from training Ukrainian pilots
Sébastien Lecornu also leaves the door open to the training of Ukrainian pilots. “Nothing is excluded,” he assures.
The United Kingdom announced at the beginning of February that it would launch a training program for Ukrainian pilots, during the visit to London of Volodymyr Zelensky “so that Ukraine has an army capable of defending its interests in the future” said British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
“We must continue to give Ukraine the means to defend itself,” said Sébastien Lecornu, reaffirming Ukraine’s right to “self-defense”. “It is our interest for our collective security, in Europe as elsewhere in Africa”, he also assures.
Heavy tanks not on the agenda
The delivery of Leclerc tanks, heavy combat tanks, however, still does not seem to be on the agenda, according to the minister. “Despite its exceptional performance, the Leclerc tank had limited export success. Selling it to Ukraine would therefore not create a leverage effect to be delivered en masse,” he explains.
Sébastien Lecornu also kicks in touch concerning the combat planes claimed by Volodymyr Zelensky from his Western allies. “The transfer of planes poses very complex logistical and practical questions,” he says.
Concerning the Caesar guns that France has already delivered to Ukraine, the minister assures us that the shipments will continue, even intensify. “The production lines will manufacture twice as many each month, going from four today to eight by next year. And the manufacturing time will decrease,” he promises.
