Macron Promises Zelensky Light Tanks, Says French Presidency
Last Updated: January 05, 2023, 00:14 IST
France’s President Emmanuel Macron. (File photo/Reuters)
Paris has already delivered rocket launchers, air defence missile systems, anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles, as well as armoured personnel carriers to Ukraine
France’s President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday told his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky that his country would send French-made light tanks to help repel the Russian invasion, the French presidency said.
“The president wanted to increase… aid” to Ukraine “by accepting to deliver AMX-10 RC light tanks”, an aide said after both leaders spoke by telephone.
“It is the first time that Western-designed tanks are supplied to the Ukrainian armed forces.”
It was not immediately clear how many of the tanks — which have been in service since the 1980s — would be dispatched or when they would be delivered.
The French defence ministry said the countries’ defence ministers would soon discuss these details.
The AMX-10 RC tanks are very light and on wheels, and therefore “very mobile” — “perhaps old but high-performance”, an advisor said.
Zelensky on Twitter said he thanked Macron “for the decision to transfer light tanks” to Ukraine.
Paris has already delivered rocket launchers, air defence missile systems, anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles, as well as armoured personnel carriers to Ukraine.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)
