France Proposes Establishing Weapons Stockpiles Across Europe for Ukraine

France is planning to offer European countries to create stockpiles of weapons on their territory, which, if necessary, can be transferred to Ukraine to deter Russia from another attack. This was stated by French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu on Thursday on Franceinfo.  

‘Security guarantees include several potential levels. For Ukraine, the issue of accumulating weapons in Europe is a way of deterrence if the war resumes,’ he explained, noting that France plans to bring this proposal to negotiations with other European countries.  

According to him, Russia will continue to pose a threat to Europe, so the creation of arms and ammunition stockpiles will allow European states not only to support Ukraine, but also to ensure the operation of their defence industries after the end of hostilities.  

Commenting on the possibility of deploying European troops to Ukraine to guarantee a future ceasefire, Lecornu acknowledged that there is ‘a framework for thinking about having a peacekeeping force after the guns have fallen silent’.  

At the same time, he stressed that the Ukrainian army is the best guarantee of security for Ukraine.  

‘What is also at stake in the discussions at the moment is to ensure that the Ukrainian army continues to be able to defend itself not only at the moment, but even when the guns are silent,’ the minister stressed.  

The discussion on foreign contingents in Ukraine within the framework of peace guarantees should include the protection of Ukraine's sea and sky, not just land territory.

As The Gaze reported, on 6 February, France handed over the first French Mirage 2000 fighter jets to Ukraine. They arrived with ‘Ukrainian pilots on board’ who had been trained in France for several months.