Kiev will receive more heavy weapon systems from France, President Emmanuel Macron said during a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday. French media reports that Paris is to send more CAESAR howitzers to Kiev.
According to a readout of the call released by Macron’s office, the French leader told Zelensky that France would meet Ukraine’s need for weapons, “including heavier ones.”
Sources cited by Europe 1 radio said six more CAESAR guns could be sent by the end of the month. France already delivered six to Ukraine in late April, the report added.
The CAESAR is a truck-mounted 155mm artillery piece with an effective range of 40km. Initial French media reports indicate that the country will send 12 in total to Ukraine.
Some have remarked that the move will help speed up the replacement of older weapons with more advanced CAESAR NG howitzers, announced in February. The upgraded version has a new chassis with a more powerful engine and better cabin protection.