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France will send Ukraine hundreds of old armored vehicles and new surface-to-air missiles for Kiev to use in its fight against Russia, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said.
In an interview with La Tribune Dimanche, Lecornu said that French President Emmanuel Macron, after talking with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, asked him to prepare for a new aid package, which includes old French equipment, but still functional.
"The Ukrainian army needs to protect the long front line, which requires armored vehicles. These devices are essential for troop mobility and are part of Ukrainian requirements," he said.
He said that France intends to give Ukraine hundreds of VAB armored vehicles and their delivery will take place in 2024 and early 2025.
The French army is constantly replacing thousands of VAB armored vehicles, which were first used in the late 70s.
Lecornu added that France is also preparing to re-deliver Aster 30 surface-to-air missiles, used for the SAMP/T system, that Paris has given to Kiev.
Aster 30 missiles can destroy fighter jets, drones and cruise missiles at a range of 120 kilometers.
"Ukraine urgently needs better ground-to-air defense... Russia is intensifying attacks, especially on civilians and civilian infrastructure," he said.
The French minister also said that his country is accelerating the production of ammunition in order to send it to Ukraine by summer.
Separately, Macron last month suggested the possibility of European states sending troops to Ukraine - a country facing a Russian-led invasion in 2022 - an idea that has faced criticism from other European leaders./REL
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