“Presidents (Volodymyr) Zelensky and (Emmanuel) Macron have asked (…) to make them proposals for the month of January to redefine a” common agenda on French military support, said Mr. Lecornu during a meeting. press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart, Oleksiï Reznikov.
He said he had discussions with the Ukrainian minister on the "tactical and strategic situation" on the ground and on "the needs of the Ukrainian army for the coming weeks".
Mr. Lecornu met Volodymyr Zelensky during a midday working meeting.
AFP journalists witness Ukrainian fire on Russian positions using a French Caesar cannon, December 28, 2022 © Sameer Al-DOUMY / AFP
According to a press release from the Ukrainian presidency, "Volodymyr Zelensky informed Mr. Lecornu of the situation at the front and the urgent defense needs" of the Ukrainian army.
"Other practical measures to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities with the support of France were discussed," it also read.
In front of the press, the French minister mentioned "the innovative fund of 200 million euros" which allows Ukraine to buy equipment directly from French industrialists, according to Ukraine's priorities to deal with the Russian army.
In mid-December, an international conference of support for Ukraine, organized in Paris, had made it possible to garner more than a billion euros in donations to help the population in particular.
A ranking by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy in December places France in 10th position, behind the United Kingdom, Poland or Germany, for its military support for kyiv, provided mainly by the United States.
Another topic of discussion between the two leaders: the problem of repairs to Western military equipment damaged on the battlefield.
"The maintenance of what has already been given to Ukraine is just as important as new equipment," Lecornu said.
The French Minister for the Armed Forces, Sebastien Lecornu (g) and the French Ambassador to Ukraine, Etienne de Poncins, visit the memorial to the Defenders of Ukraine who fell in combat, in kyiv, on December 28, 2022 © Sergei SUPINSKY / AFP
"The fight and anti-aircraft defense", "artillery systems like the Caesars" (French), the supply of ammunition and armored vehicles, as well as the fight "against Iranian drones" are currently among the priorities of the Ukrainian army, argued Oleksiï Reznikov.
Paris has said it is considering supplying kyiv with more surface-to-air missiles.
During the day, Sébastien Lecornu had laid a wreath in front of the "Wall of heroes", a memorial in kyiv dedicated to soldiers killed on the front since 2014.
© 2022 AFP