France, Germany to begin weapons production in Ukraine

Germany and France agreed to join forces to start producing weapons inside Ukraine, in a bid to boost military equipment support for Kyiv.

“Today in Berlin we discussed how we can very concretely support Ukraine even more strongly,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told reporters on March 15 after meeting French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. “The production of military equipment will be expanded, also with partners in Ukraine”, Bloomberg reports.

The three leaders met in the so-called Weimar Triangle format to discuss how to better provide aid to Kyiv and to present a united European front. Ukrainian troops are running desperately short of ammunition as they battle to hold off Russian advances, fueling fears that a defensive collapse could see President Vladimir Putin’s forces closing in on Kyiv once again.

Macron has taken a particularly strong stance on ramping up support for Ukraine, warning during a television interview on March 14 that the European Union would face a threat of a Russian invasion unless Putin’s forces are defeated in Ukraine.

“I’d like to thank the chancellor, who takes particular responsibility for industrial co-production choices on Ukrainian soil,” Macron said on March 15 after the meeting.

Earlier this month, the French defense minister Sebastien Lecornu cited the Franco-German battle tank manufacturer KNDS among French companies that will set up partnerships to produce equipment in Ukraine.

“We all agreed that help for Ukraine needs to be immediate and as intense as possible,” Tusk said. “We want to spend our money and we want to help in every possible way here and now so that the situation in Ukraine improves.”

Macron sparked tensions with allies two weeks ago by saying nothing should be ruled out when asked about putting boots on the ground in Ukraine. He argued strategic ambiguity was needed to deter Moscow. Scholz and the White House swiftly rebuffed the option, while Putin warned NATO risks a nuclear conflict if it sends troops to aid Ukraine.

Scholz, however, has faced criticism for refusing to agree to Kyiv’s request to provide it with long-range Taurus cruise missiles. The chancellor has instead highlighted that Germany is one of Ukraine’s most generous backers, pledging military assistance worth around $30 billion.

European nations have struggled to maintain unity, bickering over what kind of equipment to provide and whether to consider sending troops into Ukraine.

Scholz’s chief spokesman, Steffen Hebestreit, pushed back earlier Friday against suggestions that the chancellor and Macron dislike each other, which some critics have said is hindering progress in areas including support for Ukraine and joint European defense.

The two leaders have a “very good relationship,” even if they disagree on some issues such as sending troops to fight in the war with Russia, which Macron has declined to rule out, Hebestreit said at the regular government news conference.