France plans to supply Ukraine with an additional 78 howitzers this year to counter the Russian invasion. French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced in Paris on Thursday that Ukraine will also receive around 40 additional Scalp cruise missiles, known as Storm Shadow, and hundreds of A2SM air-to-ground missiles from France.
These missiles will enable Ukraine to launch targeted attacks behind Russian lines over long distances. Lecornu emphasized that Ukraine should enhance its future artillery through short-term industrial partnerships. He is still seeking funding for most of the Caesar howitzers produced by the French company Nexter.
Six howitzers requested by Ukraine are expected to be delivered in the coming weeks, and France will provide funding totaling 50 million euros ($54.3 million) for an additional 12 howitzer guns.
In 2023, European support for Ukraine in its war against Russia has been substantial and multifaceted. The European Union (EU) and its member states have strongly condemned Russia’s war and illegal annexation of Ukrainian regions, providing unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. The EU’s support for Ukraine has amounted to almost 83 billion euros since Russia’s invasion in February 2022. This support includes financial, economic, humanitarian, and military aid, as well as rounds of sanctions against Russia.
However, there have been some divergences within the EU regarding the extent of support for Ukraine. For instance, Hungary and Slovakia voiced reservations about granting more financial support to Ukraine. Hungary has been a vocal critic of the EU’s policy of sending money and military aid to Ukraine, with Prime Minister Viktor Orban expressing skepticism about the effectiveness of this strategy.
In addition to financial and military aid, the European Parliament has taken steps to bolster Ukraine’s economy and defense capabilities. This includes agreeing to suspend EU import duties on Ukrainian exports of agricultural products for another year and fast-tracking proposals to boost European production of ammunition and missiles to support Ukraine. Furthermore, the European Commission proposed the 11th sanctions package against Russia to add more products to the transit ban and make it more difficult to circumvent sanctions.
