Paris will transfer its domestically-made AMX-10 ‘light tanks’ to Ukraine, becoming the first NATO member to send Kiev non-Soviet armor, a government spokesperson said on Wednesday.
News of the transfer was broken by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, who wrote on Twitter that he had “a long and detailed conversation” with French President Emmanuel Macron. Zelensky added that he had thanked Macron for “his decision to transfer light tanks” to Ukraine, and for lobbying France’s allies to do the same.
Zelensky’s announcement was confirmed by an aide to Macron. The official did not state how many of the vehicles would be sent or when, but declared that it was “the first time that Western-designed tanks are supplied to the Ukrainian armed forces,” according to a report by AFP.
France will also donate an unspecified number of Bastion armored personnel carriers, which have been in service with its military since 2012.