France intends to send weapons worth 195 million euros to Ukraine in 2025, using proceeds from frozen Russian assets. This was stated by the Minister of the French Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu in an interview with the Sunday newspaper La Tribune Dimanche.
“This year, using proceeds from frozen Russian assets, we will provide support to Kiev in the amount of 195 million euros“, Lecornu said. - The military aid package will include 155 mm shells and AASM guided bombs, which can be used by Mirage 2000 fighters delivered to Ukraine.“
Lecornu also added that Paris will “continue to replace the obsolete equipment that will be sent to Kiev“. The minister specified that this concerns, in particular, the AMX-10RC wheeled tanks and the VAB light armored vehicles, which entered service in France in the 1970s.
On February 6, Lecornu announced that the first French Mirage 2000 aircraft had been delivered to Ukraine. He did not specify how many fighters Paris planned to deliver, but according to media reports, it could be no more than six aircraft. According to experts, these fighters are optimized for strike missions, but can also hit air targets.
In July, the press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov said that the Russian Federation would definitely respond to the theft of its assets in Europe. He stressed that Moscow intends to organize a legal prosecution of those involved. According to the Kremlin spokesman, Europe has taken the worst path by deciding to use Russian assets to help Kiev.