France aid to Ukraine

France's Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced that the country will fall short of its commitment to provide €3 billion in military aid to Ukraine in 2024, citing a projected budget deficit of approximately 6% of GDP. Instead, France is expected to deliver more than €2 billion in aid, a significant reduction from the initial promise made in a bilateral security agreement signed by Presidents Macron and Zelenskyy. Approximately €300 million of the aid will come from frozen Russian assets, allocated for purchasing 155 mm artillery and Caesar self-propelled howitzers, while an additional €400 to €600 million will be sourced from reduced inflation, directed towards modernizing SCALP and Aster missiles. The French government has faced criticism for not providing as much assistance as other countries, leading to the initial promise of increased aid. Despite the cuts, France remains committed to supporting Ukraine and has previously supplied military assistance worth €1.7 billion in 2022 and €2.1 billion in 2023.