According to media reports, France will send Kiev more CAESAR Howitzers
During a call to his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelesky, President Emmanuel Macron stated that Kiev will be receiving more French heavy weapons systems. French media reports that Paris will be sending more CAESAR cannons to Kiev.
According to a readout of the call released by Macron’s office, the French leader told Zelensky that France would meet Ukraine’s needs in weapons, “including heavier ones.”
This promise seems to suggest that more French artillery will be delivered to Ukraine. Europe 1 radio cites sources that claim six more CAESAR guns may be shipped by the end the month. The report said that six more of these weapons systems were delivered by France to Ukraine in April.
CAESAR, a truck-mounted artillery piece measuring 155mm in length and with a range of 40 km, is available. The French media reports that 12 units will be shipped to Ukraine.
Many have commented that this will speed up the process of replacing the weapons with newer CAESAR NG howitzers. This was first announced back in February. Upgraded versions have a brand new chassis that features a powerful engine and improved cabin protection.
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There are likely delays in the supply of arms to Ukraine
Europe 1 reported that the French might not be willing to supply more howitzers as it had only 76 weapons in operation before its first shipment to Ukraine. The new CAESAR weapon system takes around one year, according to the report.
Europe believes Macron may also be trying to balance Russia’s military assistance to Ukraine. However, this could not make him appear too cautious.
Because Ukraine is fighting against Russia, western nations are supplying increasingly sophisticated weapons systems to Ukraine. According to intelligence assessments released by Western media, the Ukrainian forces in Donbass have run out of Soviet-made weapons and shells.
The Russian military reported that its troops, along with local forces, have seized most of the territory claimed by the Lugansk People’s Republic, pushing Ukrainian troops out of the key city of Severodonetsk, with fighting taking place on the industrial outskirts of the city.
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Putin warns Ukraine about long-range missiles
Moscow said the supply of heavier weapons to Ukraine has escalated the conflict, but has not made as big a difference as Kiev’s supporters claim. Putin declared on Sunday, that Ukraine’s current weapons supply only replaced its previous capabilities. Moscow could attack if Russia receives longer-range weapons from the West, he warned. “objects that we have not yet struck.”
Russia attacked the neighboring state in late February, following Ukraine’s failure to implement the terms of the Minsk agreements, first signed in 2014, and Moscow’s eventual recognition of the Donbass republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. French and German protocols were created to grant the regions that had broken away special status in the Ukrainian government.
In recent years, the Kremlin demands that Ukraine declares itself neutral in order to be able to join NATO. Kiev maintains that Russia’s offensive was not provoked and denies claims it planned to seize the two republics.
