France is now under pressure to reduce its deficit, which could amount to 6 percent of GDP in 2024.
France will not transfer the promised 3 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine this year. Ukraine can only hope for more than 2 billion euros.
This was stated to lawmakers on Monday by Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu, Politico reports.
” A political decision was made at the beginning of 2024 that this aid could amount to €3 billion. In fact, we will exceed €2 billion, but not €3 billion“,” Lecornu said.
While French President Emmanuel Macron pledged to send a maximum of €3 billion earlier this year amid criticism of military aid, the amount will be significantly less.
At the same time, France is now under pressure to reduce its deficit, which could reach 6 percent of GDP in 2024.
” France's defence budget is expected to reach €50.5 billion next year, one of the few items in the budget that will increase. However, on Monday, Lecornu told lawmakers that the Armed Forces Ministry would stop asking for additional funds at the end of the year for unforeseen expenses related to the deployment of NATO forces in Estonia and Romania or for aid to Ukraine,” the statement said.
Lecornu added that the 300 million euros in aid to Ukraine comes from interest on frozen Russian assets and will be used to purchase 155 mm artillery ammunition, Caesar self-propelled howitzers and fuel.
“From 400 to 600 million euros will be obtained from lower inflation rates and used to repair SCALP and Aster missiles for Ukraine,” the statement said.
We recall that during the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to France, an agreement was reached to create joint Ukrainian-French weapons production in our country.
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