“We have the same strategy as the chancellor, which is to say that we will aid the Ukrainians as much as possible, but must be careful never to become parties to the conflict.” ‘Slanderous depiction’ It’s a sovereign choice that belongs to Germany and we respect it,” Macron was quoted as saying, adding he recently spoke to Scholz. “This is a debate that goes to the heart of Germany’s political life. “There is no textbook for this situation where you can look up at what point we will be seen as party to the conflict,” Chancellor Olaf Scholz told weekly Der Spiegel on Friday.īut he added Germany would replace Soviet-made weapons sent to Ukraine from eastern NATO and EU allies, including Slovenia, with new German-made ones. It also includes more tactical drones,” Biden said on Thursday.Īlthough some countries such as the US have been quick to respond, others – notably EU heavyweight Germany – fear further antagonising Moscow by delivering more powerful arms for Ukraine. “This package includes heavy artillery weapons, dozens of howitzers, and 144,000 rounds of ammunition to go with those howitzers. The move came a day after US President Joe Biden announced a new package of $800m in military aid for Ukraine, saying it would help Kyiv’s forces in the fight against Russian forces in the eastern Donbas region. Zelenskyy has also urged the West to impose tougher sanctions on Russia and accused the Russian army of committing many atrocities in Ukraine, including in the port city of Mariupol. Ukrainian officials including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have repeatedly implored European and NATO powers to provide heavier weapons, especially artillery, as Russia launches a new assault on its neighbour’s east. Always with the red line that we will not become parties to the conflict.”ĭefence Minister Florence Parly confirmed on Twitter that France would send “several Caesar artillery cannons and thousands of shells”.īuilt by partly state-owned arms maker Nexter, the Caesar is a 155mm howitzer mounted on a six-wheeled truck chassis, capable of firing shells at ranges of more than 40km (25 miles). “I think we have to continue on this route. “We are delivering significant equipment, from Milan to Caesar ,” President Emmanuel Macron told regional newspaper Ouest-France. France is sending several artillery weapons to Ukraine as a growing number of Western nations contribute heavier arms to Kyiv following the Russian invasion.

France ukraine 2020 chaine