France to hand over 12 more Caesar systems to Ukraine at expense of Russian assets

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OCTOBER 20, 2024

France will send more weapons to Ukraine using the interest from the frozen assets of Russia. In particular, Kyiv will receive 12 more Caesar artillery systems, reports BFM TV.

French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu explained that his country has “returned” 300 million euros of interest from frozen Russian assets to buy military equipment for Ukraine at the end of the year, including 12 new Caesar guns.

“We are mobilizing interest from frozen Russian assets to purchase military equipment for Ukraine... By the end of 2024 alone, France will have returned 300 million euros,” Lecornu emphasized.

He noted that this amount made it possible to order 12 new Caesar guns to be delivered to Ukraine, as well as

  • 155-mm shells,
  • Astra missiles
  • AASM guided bombs,
  • firing positions and missiles.
Caesar artillery systems

Caesar is a modern self-propelled artillery system that combines mobility, accuracy, and firepower. It is able to quickly turn around, fire a volley, and leave the position, avoiding return fire.

Last February, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry announced that Copenhagen had handed over its Caesar self-propelled artillery systems to Ukraine.

Earlier this year, French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu said that Paris would transfer 78 Caesars to Ukraine and also plans to increase the supply of ammunition.

 

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France set to miss €3B mark for Ukraine aid
OCTOBER 15, 2024

PARIS — France will fall short of its pledge to donate up to €3 billion in military aid to Ukraine this year and is only on track for "above €2 billion," Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu told lawmakers on Monday.

"Politically it was decided at the beginning of 2024 that this aid could reach €3 billion. In reality, we will be above €2 billion but not at €3 billion,” Lecornu said.

French President Emmanuel Macron made the promise to send a maximum of €3 billion earlier this year — part of an effort to beef up French aid to Ukraine after Paris came under fire for doing less than other countries like Germany.

In February, in a move to secure long-term aid for Ukraine, Paris and Kyiv signed a bilateral security deal that officially pledged up to €3 billion of military support for this year.

Now, however, France is under pressure to reduce its deficit, which could hit 6 percent of GDP in 2024.

France is not the only country facing a budget squeeze.

In Germany — Europe’s largest donor of military aid — policymakers plan to halve support to Ukraine next year to slash spending. There are also fears that the U.S. will reduce its support to Kyiv if former President Donald Trump returns to the White House.

Despite the financial wobble, Macron strongly backs Ukraine in the war.

Last week, the French president welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris to discuss his “victory plan” and additional aid for Ukraine. On the eve of Zelenskyy’s visit, Macron greeted Ukrainian soldiers training in eastern France, part of a French initiative to train an entire brigade on French equipment.

France is also expected to provide Mirage 2000 fighter jets to Kyiv in the first half of 2025.

Overall, Paris provided €1.7 billion worth of military aid to Kyiv in 2022 and €2.1 billion in 2023; that puts it behind countries like Germany, the U.K. and Sweden.

Next year, France’s defense budget is expected to reach €50.5 billion — one of the few budget lines that will increase. However, Lecornu told lawmakers Monday that the armed forces ministry would stop asking for extra cash at the end of the year for unexpected costs linked to NATO deployments in Estonia and Romania, or for aid to Ukraine.

According to Lecornu, €300 million worth of aid for Ukraine comes from interest on frozen Russian assets and will be used to buy 155 mm artillery ammunition, Caesar self-propelled howitzers and fuel. From €400 million to €600 million will be generated by lower inflation rates and used to renovate SCALP and Aster missiles for Ukraine.

Lecornu’s comments come as Nordic and Baltic countries are increasing their efforts. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis told POLITICO that “the latest data shows … the Nordic-Baltic group, if taken as a unit, is the second military provider to Ukraine [after the U.S.].”

He called on other European countries to step up support, and warned against war fatigue.

 
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