Macron announces dozens of missiles, hundreds of bombs for Ukraine
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Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans on Tuesday to deliver more long-range cruise missiles as well as bombs to Ukraine and warned that a Russian victory would undermine the world order.
"We cannot let Russia win and we must not do that," he said, adding that he will travel to Ukraine next month.
Macron was speaking at a wide-ranging news conference where he addressed an array of domestic and international issues for more than two hours.
He said France plans to deliver about 40 long-range missiles and "several hundred bombs that our Ukrainian friends are waiting for".
Much of the prime-time news conference focused on domestic issues. Macron laid out broad plans to strengthen and better prepare France for global crises, saying the country has "all the aces to succeed".
The event was Macron's latest effort to reinvigorate his presidency after a series of bruising domestic battles, notably about France's retirement age and how to better control immigration, and riots last year that swept hundreds of cities, towns and villages after the fatal police shooting of a teenager.
Now, Macron is hoping to hit reset and make a fresh start in a year when France will be in the global spotlight as host of the Summer Olympics in Paris.
Last week, Macron installed a new prime minister, France's youngest ever, and new ministers, also part of a renewed drive by Macron to infuse his leadership with renewed energy.
Macron's move to refresh the government comes after two major laws he had promised were adopted last year. One pushed the retirement age from 62 to 64. The other, on immigration, is intended to strengthen France's ability to deport foreigners who are considered undesirable.
The contentious immigration bill has been criticised by some in opposition as too right-leaning, and Macron himself had to argue it was not a victory for the far-right.
His government still faces a major challenge: With no majority in parliament, it can only pass laws by bargaining with opposition lawmakers and using special constitutional powers.
With PTI inputs
