In a joint statement issued by the two presidents, Macron and Zelensky also called for new sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
Paris announced on Monday the provision of dozens of armored vehicles and light tanks to the Ukrainian army, as well as training soldiers to use them, following a dinner that brought together French President Emmanuel Macron and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky at the Elysee Palace.
In a joint statement issued by the two presidents, Macron and Zelensky also called for new sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
“In the coming weeks, France will train several Ukrainian battalions and equip them with dozens of AMX-10RC armored vehicles and light tanks,” the statement said, adding that Paris “is also focusing its efforts on supporting Ukraine’s air defense capabilities.”
He stressed that “Ukraine and France agree on the need to increase collective pressure on Russia by imposing more sanctions on it to weaken its ability to continue its aggressive and illegal war.”
“With each visit to Paris, Ukraine’s defensive and offensive capabilities expand,” Zelensky said in a tweet as he headed to the Villacoublay air base in southwest Paris.
“Relations with Europe are getting stronger, and the pressure on Russia is growing,” he added.
