France announced that President Emmanuel Macron had told his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, that Paris would hand over light armored vehicles to Kyiv, for the first time that Ukrainian forces would be equipped with Western-made armored vehicles. For his part, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, for a unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine.

Yesterday, Wednesday, after a phone call between Macron and Zelensky, an Elysee official said that the president informed his Ukrainian counterpart that France would send AMX-10 RC light armored combat vehicles to Kiev to help it in its war against Russia. The French armored vehicle is equipped with a 105 mm cannon and it runs on wheels, making it easy to move.

The French official stated that it would be the first time that armored vehicles manufactured by the West were delivered to Ukraine, but Australia had already said in October 2022 that it had provided Kiev with 90 Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles, which are armored units reinforced against mines and fire. Small arms and other threats.

In his videotaped evening speech yesterday, the Ukrainian president thanked Macron for this announcement, adding that it showed that other allies should provide heavier weapons.

"This sends a clear signal to all our partners. There is no logical reason not to supply Ukraine with Western tanks yet," Zelensky said.

Yesterday, Zelensky announced the arrival of French-made Bastion light armored vehicles, which Ukraine obtained through a special fund established by Paris to provide Kyiv with military equipment.


Washington is studying

US President Joe Biden said - later yesterday - that Washington is considering sending Bradley combat vehicles to Ukraine.

The Bradley armored vehicles, which are equipped with a powerful cannon and armor-piercing missiles, can act as troop carriers, and have been one of the primary means used by the US Army to transport troops on the battlefield since the mid-1980s.

This American vehicle would give Ukraine more combat power on the battlefield and enhance its ability in trench warfare.

But Biden's move will stop short of sending in the famous "Abrams" tanks that Ukraine has sought.

Kyiv has repeatedly asked Western allies to provide it with heavy combat vehicles such as the "Abrams" and German-made "Leopard" tanks.

NATO warns

The Reuters news agency quoted NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg as saying today that it is dangerous to underestimate Russia, and that there is a need for more soldiers, ammunition and weapons.

"They (the Russians) have shown a great willingness to bear losses and suffer," Stoltenberg said during his participation in a conference in Norway. "We have no indication that President Putin has changed his plans and goals in Ukraine. Therefore, it is dangerous to underestimate Russia."

Yesterday, the Russian Ministry of Defense said that it had conducted a test of a hypersonic "Zircon" missile, noting that the missile was launched from the "Admiral Groshkov" frigate in the Barents Sea (northwestern Russia).


The Russian ministry added that the missile launch took place within the framework of testing new types of weapons, explaining that the missile hit with high accuracy a sea target about 1,000 km from the launch site.

The Russian president supervised - via video - the sailing of the frigate, equipped with new hypersonic missiles, on a mission in the Atlantic, Indian and Mediterranean oceans.

Putin said - during a ceremony attended by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu - that this frigate has "weapons unparalleled in the world" on board, adding, "I am confident that such powerful weapons will effectively protect Russia from external threats and help defend national interests."

The Tsirkon is one of the most dangerous Russian missiles, launched from warships and submarines, and is capable of reaching the United States, according to Russian media reports when it was revealed two years ago.

Erdogan's invitation

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called today on his Russian counterpart for a "unilateral ceasefire" in Ukraine, according to what the Turkish presidency announced. fair solution.

The Turkish presidency added - in a statement - that Presidents Erdogan and Putin discussed energy issues and the grain transit corridor in the Black Sea.

In a related context, Anna Millar, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister, accused the Kremlin of seeking to force the Ukrainian leadership to negotiate by force.

The Ukrainian official said that the Russian army will continue to form additional offensive units in the near future, and will focus its main efforts to control Liman, Solidar, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka, all in the eastern Donbass region.

Millar added that the Russians will not stop mobilizing measures as a result of the large losses their army received during the past year, which is likely to be activated in the first quarter of this year.