10:52 PM
Sunday, January 22, 2023
Paris – (dpa)
French President Emmanuel Macron said that France does not rule out the possibility of delivering Leclerc combat tanks to Ukraine.
“With regard to Leclerc, we do not rule anything out,” Macron said today, Sunday, at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Paris.
However, Macron emphasized that the deployment of Leclerc tanks should not cause an escalation of the conflict, should not weaken France’s defense capabilities, and should represent realistic and effective support for Ukraine.
He said the issue would be discussed with allies such as Germany in the coming days and weeks.
So far, Ukraine has not been provided with any Western-designed main tanks in order to strengthen its defense against Russian attackers, but Britain has pledged to provide 14 Challenger tanks to Ukraine.
