France bolsters Ukraine's artillery with Caesar howitzers and aims for European defence autonomy

French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced that Paris would soon be able to supply Kyiv with 78 self-propelled Caesar howitzers and increase ammunition deliveries to meet Ukraine's urgent ammunition needs.

During a press conference, Sebastien Lecornu revealed that France, Ukraine, and Denmark have reached a financial agreement regarding delivering the self-propelled 155 mm calibre Caesar howitzers, which will allow Paris "to deliver them quickly."

He also mentioned that France plans to provide Ukraine with 80,000 pieces of ammunition for 155 mm calibre guns this year, up from the 30,000 it has supplied since the full-scale invasion began.

Moreover, Lecornu stated that France is actively searching for existing stocks of gunpowder and ammunition, which could be acquired from countries outside the European Union as part of the Czech initiative.

Furthermore, Lecornu emphasised that European countries should lessen their reliance on the United States to ensure security on the continent.

"It is absolutely necessary. I believe it is incorrect to expect American taxpayers to bear so much of the cost for the security of Europeans," said Lecornu.

On the programme "8h30 franceinfo," French Minister of Agriculture Marc Fesneau commented on the recent agreement between EU Member States and the European Parliament concerning limiting certain Ukrainian agricultural products exempt from duties. On March 20, products such as oats, corn, groats, and honey were added to the list of Ukrainian agricultural items subject to quantitative limitations.

"This is not the stance France advocated for. It is certainly a gesture of solidarity, but it should not come at the cost of destabilising the market excessively. We will continue our efforts," announced Marc Fesneau.