Canada to deliver four Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine to help it fight off the Russian invasion. The defense minister’s announcement follows German and American decisions to send heavy tanks to Ukraine. France, on the other hand, he hasn’t decided yet what he’s going to do due to the fear of an escalation of the war and the peculiarity of its Leclerc wagons.
Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna went to Odessa to discuss the immediate and urgent military and civilian needs with her Ukrainian counterpart. The head of French diplomacy, whose visit to Ukraine it was the fourth since the beginning of the Russian invasion, he has come “to testify to France’s long-term support for the Ukrainian people”.
Paris announced earlier this month sending light armored vehicles wheeled fighter, the AMX-10RC. As for the Leclerc tanks, the question is still open. “Nothing is excluded,” French President Emmanuel Macron said. But if the head of state hesitates, it is first of all for fear of fueling an escalation against Russia.
You also need to ensure that French defense capabilities are not weakened. With 226 Leclerc tanks, which they are no longer produced the French General Staff deems its fleet it is already limited.
Cost benefit ratio
Finally, it is necessary to estimate the cost-benefit ratio of such a supply and ensure that these vehicles provide real and effective support to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. However, these tanks require a lot of logistical supportwhich could significantly increase the cost.
For their part, the Ukrainians insist on getting from Paris air defense systems, radars and ammunition.
It’s about supplying the Ukrainians teams “consistent with their needs”a diplomatic source told Agence France-Presse (AFP), adding that Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky “he hadn’t expressed his need for Leclerc tanks” for “obvious” reasons, i.e. logistical, maintenance and warehouse issues.
“For an army, whatever it is, have in your forces ten different types of tankscreates an almost insoluble logistic equation,” this source said, insisting that the Ukrainians “wanted from the start” Leopard 2 tanks which Germany finally promised on Wednesday to hand over to Ukraine.
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Source: Clarin
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.