Ukraine to receive €195m worth of weapons from France: funds to be paid for with Russian assets

Flags of Ukraine and France. Photo: Getty image

France will provide Ukraine with military assistance worth €195 million, which will be financed by interest from frozen Russian assets.

This was stated by French Armed Forces Minister Sebastian Lecorne in an interview with La Tribune Dimanche.

The aid package will include 155mm artillery shells and AASM bombs used on French Mirage 2000 fighters handed over to Ukraine. Paris will also accelerate the transfer of AMX-10RC light tanks and VAB armoured personnel carriers, which were previously in service with the French army.

Lecorneuil noted that France plans to increase the production of military equipment to support both the Ukrainian Armed Forces and its own army. In particular, Dassault Aviation will increase the production of Rafale fighter jets to four or five in 2026.

In addition, the French government will double the production of MBDA (Akeron MP) anti-tank missiles in 2025 and AASM aerial bombs by 2026. For this purpose, partnership agreements will be signed with defence companies Thales and EOS.

Among the top priorities for the near future, the minister named the production of ammunition, electronic warfare, drone development, robotics, artificial intelligence and space technology.

Earlier, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the allocation of 5 billion Canadian dollars to Ukraine from Russia's frozen assets. This is approximately $3.5 billion.