Politico reports:

France will deliver “light” battle tanks to Ukraine, President Emmanuel Macron’s office announced Wednesday, which would make it the first country to send such Western-designed armored fighting vehicles to the wartorn country.

The Elysée said after a phone call between Macron and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy that France will send AMX-10 RC armored fighting vehicles, which Paris has been gradually replacing with new Jaguar battle tanks.

Several countries have already sent Soviet-era tanks to Ukraine. Both France and Germany have been under pressure to send tanks to Ukraine, but had refused to give in to Kyiv’s requests.

An adviser to France’s Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu said Wednesday’s decision was made to help Ukraine prepare for “a possible Russian offensive” in the spring. [Continue reading…]