France announces more armoured mobiles & soldier training for Ukraine

Paris: France announced a package of armoured vehicles, including dozens of light tanks, and training for soldiers for Ukraine on Monday, Agence France-Presse reported.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a joint statement on the day in which they called for more sanctions on Russia over its 14 months and-counting, long invasion of Ukraine,

The statement said that in the coming weeks, France would train and equip many battalions with tens of armoured mobiles and light tanks, including AMX-10RC.

France also decided to focus on backing Urkaine in its air defence capacities so that it could protect people from Russian airstrikes.

The statement said that Ukraine and France agreed that a need is there to increase pressure on Russia through more sanctions "to weaken Russia's ability to continue its illegal war of aggression," AFP quoted.

The announcement came after Zelensky visited France late on Sunday and dined with Macron at the Elysee Palace.

En route France, Zelensky tweeted, Paris. With each visit, Ukraine's defence and offensive capabilities are expanding."

"The ties with Europe are getting stronger, and the pressure on Russia is growing," he added.

Germany to present Ukraine with new weapons package worth 2.7 billion euros, German defence ministry informed on Saturday. The said package is the largest from Germany since Russia initiated its invasion of Ukraine.

German defence minister Boris Pistorius had said in a statement that they hope for a rapid end to the terrible war in Ukraine, led by Russia, but the end is not in sight. Therefore Germany will provide Ukraine with all the help it can as long as necessary, he said.