On Wednesday, the flags were unfurled and the media were invited to the Thales factory in Limour, on the outskirts of Paris, where France presented Ukraine with a soon-to-be-delivered radar. Paris has long been accused of being too stingy with Kyiv, and now emphasizes its military aid, reports AFP.

A table is set in front of the large khaki-colored equipment, which should arrive on Ukrainian soil by May. The Ground Master 200, which costs 30 million euros, has a range of 250 km, enough to cover “the entire area of ​​Kyiv,” according to French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu.

It can detect both slow-flying drones and much faster high-altitude fighters. “There are military segments where France is a leader and where we have the know-how,” he added.

His Ukrainian colleague Oleksiy Reznikov, who was present in Limura, said that he was satisfied.

“We currently use about 300 different types of radars. It will really be the icing on the cake,” he smiles as he holds the small Ground Master model he was given.

However, Kyiv was not always satisfied with Paris. Last June, Ukrainians were angered by Emmanuel Macron’s call not to “humiliate Russia.” The weakness of the French supply was sometimes derided.

France wants more, but has no reserves

Oleksiy Reznikov preferred to praise the “voice of France”, which is “very strong” and “often heard” in the struggle with the Kremlin. “It was France that gave impetus to this tank coalition. We greatly appreciate this French leadership,” he insisted.

In early January, President Macron promised the supply of French AMX-10 RC light armored vehicles, breaking the Western tank taboo for Ukraine. And accelerate the statements of Berlin, Warsaw, London or Washington to send heavy tanks to Kyiv.

“The Ukrainians expect France to be able to get involved in certain segments because there is a leverage effect, as in the case of the AMX-10,” said Thomas Gasillou, head of the National Assembly’s defense committee.

On Tuesday, Paris announced the delivery of 12 new Caesar guns, which were highly appreciated by the Ukrainian forces, after 18 already delivered. In addition, he noted that he is not against the transfer of fighter jets to Kyiv, which used to be an impassable red line.

French discourse on military aid to Ukraine is “generally at the forefront of future, deeper changes,” notes William Alberc of the International Institute for Strategic Studies. “When it comes to airplanes, they make possible what was unthinkable for Western governments.”

A researcher at the French Institute of International Relations, Leo Peria-Penier, draws attention to “political communication” regarding Ukraine by the French government, which is “doing everything it can because France has no military reserves.”

“Other partner countries made larger donations without appearing at meetings with Ukrainian ministers,” he said. He mentioned the Patriot air defense system worth hundreds of millions of euros, which Berlin presented to Kyiv in January.

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