In World War II, the Nazis invaded the Soviet Union, killing millions of soldiers and civilians. France will be by your side until victory.īEARDSLEY: For Germany, there's been a psychological barrier to going too far to help Ukraine because of its own past. PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON: (Non-English language spoken).īEARDSLEY: Your fight is heroic. But in his New Year's Eve address, Macron left no doubt that France will support Ukrainians until the end. SYLVIE KAUFFMANN: I think it's a sign that we understand that we have to go all the way with the Ukrainians and try to help them more efficiently to win this war.īEARDSLEY: President Macron has been criticized for saying that Russian security should be taken into account and for keeping an open line with President Vladimir Putin. But it will make a difference for the counter offensive.īEARDSLEY: Until recently, powerful equipment like this was off the table, says Sylvie Kauffmann, foreign affairs columnist with French newspaper Le Monde. ULRIKE FRANKE: These are important systems insofar as they allow Ukraine to put infantry soldiers closer to the action in a way that's kind of safe and secure for them. Ulrike Franke is a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. and Germany committed to give Ukraine Bradley and Marder armored personnel carriers. I thank President Macron for his leadership. PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY: (Non-English language spoken).īEARDSLEY: France is taking European defense support for Ukraine to a new level with these light tanks, said Zelenskyy. And they mark a change in what the West is willing to provide.ĮLEANOR BEARDSLEY, BYLINE: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy began a recent nightly address by thanking France for its AMX-10 armored fighting vehicles. But, as NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports, what some refer to as, quote, "light tanks" are the first Western-designed vehicles of their kind to be sent. They're not the heavy main battle tanks Kyiv has been asking for. The U.S., France and Germany all recently announced they will send new armored fighting vehicles to Ukraine.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |