The executive is considering supplying Leclerc tanks to Ukraine, which desperately needs tanks in its war against Russia. But this Wednesday, the Élysée told BFMTV that it was only a hypothesis and the Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, reminded the senators that such a delivery would require some guarantees.
It’s no secret: in the war it has to fight to repel the Russian invader, Ukraine lacks both aircraft and armored vehicles. Valéri Zaloujny, the chief of staff of his armies, had also put his need at “300 tanks” last December.
And we’re a long way from that at the moment. Admittedly, the UK announced a donation of 14 Challenger 2 tanks on Saturday, but the German-made Leopard 2s have been slow to show the end of their guns. And the French Leclerc tanks in all this? According to elements gathered by BFMTV this Wednesday from the executive branch and testimonies by the Secretary of the Armed Forces in the Senate, the matter is being investigated but no decision has been made. It must be said that it is not devoid of geopolitical considerations and requires guarantees.
On the way to a “quick fix”?
The Élysée first told us that the delivery of Leclerc tanks to Ukraine was “hypothetical” at this point. However, when asked about this in the Senate, Federal Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu confirmed: “Emmanuel Macron asked us to find a quick solution for the delivery of tanks to Ukraine.”
The minister also recalled that France had offered its ally armored AMX 10 RC vehicles. “A solution hailed by the Ukrainians,” he argued. But these machines are lighter than the Leclerc tanks and are more suited to reconnaissance than combat.
“Maintaining the condition” of the devices is the focus of interest
Although acknowledging that the possibility of equipping the Ukrainians with Leclerc tanks is still being studied, Sébastien Lecornu also stressed the need to exercise some caution: “We are examining the request for Leclerc tanks using the criteria that we maintain for each one Task.” Then he listed them: first “to ensure that the equipment will be used for defense purposes”, then “not to damage our defense system, and finally the “guarantee that what has already been delivered to Ukraine in working order maintain condition”.
The minister therefore regretted that one of the delivered CAESAR guns was already “out of order”. “Keeping Leclerc tanks in working condition is a particularly sensitive issue,” he said.
Train Germany in its wake
Even if Paris decides to take the plunge, Kyiv shouldn’t expect to see an armada land. According to our information from military sources, a very symbolic number of Leclerc tanks are to be sent to the Ukrainian front to put pressure on the Germans.
In fact, for several days all eyes, Ukrainians and Europeans, have been on the Leopard 2s produced by German factories. And in abundance: Germany produced 2000 of them to sell to continental partners. However, two of them, Poland and Finland, have expressed a willingness to supply some of their copies to the nation under attack. Aside from the fact that they need the Berlin Agreement to take action, Germany requires that buying states obtain its approval before selling arms made on its territory to a third country. And the Chancellery is currently holding back with four irons.
Patrick Sauce and Ulysse Gosset with Robin Verner