PARIS, France
France and Australia announced
Monday plans to jointly produce and send several thousand 155-millimeter
artillery shells to Ukraine, starting in the coming weeks.French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, second right, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu, right, attend a joint press conference with Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles, second left, and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Monday, Jan. 30, 2023 in Paris
The multimillion-dollar plan
is the latest offer of support for Ukraine by both countries, and comes amid
growing appeals from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for heavy weaponry
and long-term supplies from Western allies nearly a year into Russia’s
war on Ukraine.
The joint announcement, made
by Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles and French Defense Minister
Sebastien Lecornu, also appeared aimed at sending a signal that the two
countries have overcome a damaging
dispute over submarines.
Australia secretly jettisoned
a $60 billion contract for conventional French submarines in 2021 in favor of a
deal for nuclear-powered submarines made by the U.S. and Britain instead,
deeply harming French-Australian relations.
The production of artillery
shells for Ukraine will be led by French manufacturer Nexter in cooperation
with Australian manufacturers, the defense ministers said. They did not provide
further details, citing national security.
“I’m pleased to announce that
Australia and France are working together to supply 155-millimeter ammunition
to Ukraine, to make sure Ukraine is able to stay in this conflict and see it
concluded on its own terms,” Marles said.
Lecornu said they aim to send
the first shells in the first quarter of this year, and that the project is
meant to secure a steady supply of shells to Ukraine over time. - AP
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