By KYIV. Dec 12 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal says that Ukraine is asking and expecting the provision of the French Mamba air defense system.
"First of all, we need anti-missile air defense. That is, a weapon that will protect our sky, close and save our infrastructure, the lives of our civilians. This is, of course, the Patriot system, the IRIS-T system that we received from Germany, this is the Crotale system that we received from France. Now we are asking and expecting help from the French Mamba system, which will also help us fight Iranian drones and Russian missiles. That is, these are the things that can really save, protect our infrastructure. We are talking about this with the French leadership and we are grateful to France for supplying not only the Crotale system, but also CAESAR howitzers, which have proven themselves on the battlefield and really help us defend our freedom and democracy," Shmyhal said in an interview with the French TV channel LCI-TF1.
The Prime Minister noted that the second priority is howitzers, starting from the French CAESAR systems and ending with any 155-caliber howitzers of the NATO standard.
"We also need artillery shells of any caliber … Russia fires from 50,000 to 70,000 artillery shells towards the Ukrainian army every day. Of course, we need our defense at least a third of this amount every day," he said.
Shmyhal also added that, of course, Ukraine also asks for NATO-standard tanks.
"These are German Leopard 2 tanks, American Abrams tanks, and other NATO-standard tanks. If France can help us with tanks, we will also be grateful," the prime minister said.
