Last Update: January 30, 2023, 22:08 IST
A Ukrainian soldier walks past a destroyed building of Kherson’s international airport in the village of Chernobievka, on the outskirts of Kherson. (File photo/AFP)
Lecornu said the aid was “significant” and “an effort that will continue over time”, with first deliveries slated for the first quarter of 2023.
France and Australia will supply together ukraine With the 155mm shells needed for artillery provided by the West since Russia’s invasion, Defense Ministers Sebastian Lecornu and Richard Marles said on Monday.
France’s Lecornu said “several thousand 155mm shells would be jointly manufactured by French arms supplier Nexter”, while Marles said the plan would come with a “multi-million-dollar” price tag.
The Australian minister said the ammunition supply was “at the current level of support both France and Australia are providing to Ukraine to ensure that Ukraine is able to remain in this conflict and … see that it meets its objectives”. ends on terms.”
Lecornu said the assistance would be “significant” and “an effort that will continue over time”, with first deliveries scheduled for the first quarter of 2023.
Marles said “there are some unique capabilities that exist in Australia and some synergies that can be achieved by Australia and France working together” to manufacture the shells.
Lecornu said, while Nexter would do the manufacturing, Australia would supply the gunpowder, without elaborating further.
The two defense ministers were meeting with the foreign ministers of both countries, Catherine Colonna and Penny Wong, as France and Australia look to restart cooperation.
Relations suffered a serious blow in 2021 when Canberra abandoned a French submarine contract in favor of American submarines, as well as joining the AUKUS Pacific alliance with London and Washington.
Marles welcomed the “personal warmth between the four of us”, with all ministers stressing the need to “rebuild” or “relaunch” in different ways.
Several types of artillery sent to Ukraine from its Western allies fired 155 mm shells, including French-built CAESAR truck-mounted guns, British-built M777 howitzers or the German Panzer Howitzer 2000 self-propelled gun.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)