Russia and Ukraine flashpoint

[Bofferbrauer2]

Ryuu96 said:

⚡️🇪🇺 Peace through strength is necessary for both Ukraine and Europe, says European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

"Putin says he wants to meet, but on what terms? He must show that he truly wants peace and has abandoned his ambitions to destroy Ukraine," she stated.

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— NOELREPORTS (@noelreports.com) 14 February 2025 at 13:51

🇩🇪 German President Steinmeier urged EU leaders "not to act like deer caught in headlights” during his speech at the Munich Security Conference.

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— NOELREPORTS (@noelreports.com) 14 February 2025 at 13:49

Macron was warning Western Europe for years not to rely on America too much, UK and Germany didn't listen, Italy and Spain as well. Baltics/Nordics/Poland have been pulling their weight for a while. Macron has many issues domestically but he has been proven to have been absolutely spot on when it comes to foreign policy. Though France needs to send far more to Ukraine to back their words.

Bolded: Yet they were also those who blocked the creation of an European Army at several occasions during the last 20 years with the argument that we wouldn't need it as we got NATO already. See where that brought us today...

Italic: France has sent quite a bit of heavy equipment to Ukraine: Apart from at least 40 AMX-10 RC (they stopped announcing new numbers last year though shipments are ongoing), France sent almost 300 VAB (deliveries here also ongoing), 4 MLRS, 60 CEASAR 155mm Self-propelled artillery systems (out of which 30 were donated from stock and 30 produced specifically for donation to Ukraine) 2 AA batteries (3 if you add the on they sent together with Italy), 4 mobile Radar systems, dozens of VAB engineering vehicles, an EFA mobile bridge ferry (yes, it's both at once), some SDZ mine-clearing robots, SCALP cruise missiles and finally 6 Mirage 2000-5 Jets.

Granted, France could have sent more, but the reason why the sum in € is so low is mostly because they sent no tanks or IFV, which are generally quite a bit to an order of magnitude more expensive than APC, armored recce or artillery systems. The Mirage 2000-5 should rectify that image somewhat as jets are more expensive than any tank out there.

Speaking of IFV, they could produce some VBCI for Ukraine now that the deliveries for France are all done. They could also send at least a couple of their Leclerc tanks even though they can't produce new ones anymore (production facilities have been dismantled in the meantime, so only upgrades are possible right now), they only have about half of their tank force in active service, with almost 200 staying in storage, accumulating dust and rust. At least if they keep up the deliveries of VAB and AMX-10 RC as their successors VMBR and EBRC are coming out to replace them in the field for France, they will accumulate quite some deliveries over time. After all, France still has 200 AMX-10 and 2000 VAB in active use, waiting to be replaced by their successors...

Last edited by Bofferbrauer2 - on 14 February 2025