French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday announced he intends to send 'light tanks' to Ukraine, which will make France the first to supply Western-manufactured tanks to the conflict, after some like Poland earlier transferred Soviet tanks.
While NATO allies have gradually increased the sophistication of weaponry shipped to Kiev, including longer range missiles and more recently Patriot systems approved by the US, they have stopped short of sending either tanks or fighter jets, largely on fears of Moscow expanding the war in response.
"The president wanted to increase... aid" to Ukraine "by accepting to deliver AMX-10 RC light tanks" - a Macron aide told reportersfollowing the French leader holding a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The AFP has described the French-made AMX-10 RC as an older light model tanks which the French infantry used in the 1980s, but has since been phased out. It is six-wheeled and not on tracks, thus it's sometimes called a "wheeled tank" - but has a powerful 105 mm gun on a turret.
Among other medium and heavy equipment, France and other countries have already delivered armored personnel carriers to Ukraine, so this appears the next step up, perhaps paving the way to heavier more conventional tanks to match Russia's significant tank forces.
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