France to send Ukraine €195 million from interest on frozen Russian assets

He revealed this in an interview with La Tribune Dimanche.

According to Lecornu, the money will be used to supply 155mm artillery shells and AASM aerial bombs, which are used by Ukraine’s Mirage 2000 fighter jets.

France is also speeding up the delivery of AMX-10RC light tanks and VAB armored personnel carriers, previously used by the French military.

Against the backdrop of geopolitical instability, France, alongside its allies, is strengthening its defense capabilities. Lecornu identified ammunition and electronic warfare as key priorities in the coming years. He also emphasized the growing importance of drones, robotics, artificial intelligence, and space technology.

To support both Ukraine and its own military, France is ramping up arms production. Lecornu noted that Dassault Aviation will increase Rafale fighter jet production from two per month in 2025 to four or five per month in 2026.

The French government also plans to double production of AASM aerial bombs by 2026 and MBDA (Akeron MP) anti-tank missiles by 2025. To achieve this, new industrial partnerships are being formed with defense firms Thales and EOS.

• Recently, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal confirmed that Ukraine is already receiving funds from partners tied to frozen Russian assets.