William Molinié, edited by Ugo Pascolo
modified to
09:58, March 08, 2022
If France does not hide its support for Ukraine, it is not the same for the contents of the boxes which are sent to the front. Besides defensive equipment, lethal weapons are shipped to fight against the Russian invasion. But Paris struggles to assume these deliveries and does not communicate on their content, protected by the secret of national defense.
If France “is not at war with Russia”, as Emmanuel Macron said during his speech to the French, it offers its support to Ukraine. Aid which materializes in particular by military equipment. If the Americans and NATO have already sent 17,000 anti-tank missiles in six days, France refuses to communicate on the content of the aid provided to Kiev.
Vocabulary evolution
Paris openly assumes the sending of helmets, bulletproof vests, medical or demining equipment, but the simple word “weapon” resonates with the Ministry of the Armed Forces like a taboo. And the reason is simple, Paris does not wish to appear belligerent in this conflict. The French authorities barely mentioned military equipment lip service.
But in recent days, the situation has changed. Paris assumes the sending of so-called “lethal” weapons while qualifying them as “defensive”. “We play on words,” admits a senior officer. Clearly, France does not deliver attack tanks or combat aircraft. On the other hand, military specialists evoke anti-tank missiles, ammunition, even machine guns. But none of this is official, the precise content of the material being covered by national defense secrets.
Other European countries that are too talkative
Conversely, other European countries have opted for communication. Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Portugal in particular… All have announced that they will supply thousands of assault or precision rifles, mortars, rocket launchers. A communication that goes beyond what Europe thinks is acceptable to Moscow: the lexical field of defense weapons. Moreover, according to information gathered by Europe 1, Paris has called to order European governments deemed too talkative.
A message heard by most countries, with the exception of Germany and Spain, which have again detailed several of their deliveries in recent days.