Reuters. France will start supplying long-range missiles to Ukraine, which will allow Kyiv's forces to defend themselves, President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday (July 11).
"I have decided to increase deliveries of weapons and equipment to enable the Ukrainians to have the capacity to strike deeply while keeping our doctrine to allow Ukraine to defend its territory", he said on arrival at a NATO summit in Lithuania.
He declined to give further details on how many or the types of missiles.
"I think today, what's important for us is to send a message of support to Ukraine, of NATO's unity and of our determination for Russia not to win this war. That's the line of thought in which we should stay", Macron said.
Leaders of NATO's 31 members are meeting in Vilnius to discuss the fallout from Russia's invasion that brought war to their doorstep, and Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said earlier on Tuesday that Ukraine would get a "positive and strong message" on its path to membership.
Kremlin on France's plans to transfer long-range missiles to Ukraine: Bad decision which will have consequences for Kiev
"France's decision to transfer long-range missiles to Ukraine will force Russia to take retaliatory measures", Dmitri Peskov, Russian President's Spokespoerson said.
