We do not make war with flowers but kyiv will have had the merit of trying. The Ukrainian army has pulled out the violins and broken the codes of military communication in a clip imploring Paris to show “romance” by sending more Caesar artillery pieces.
Music by Gainsbourg, muses of French charm and sunset… The clip posted on the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense’s Twitter account is undoubtedly the most original version of all of kyiv’s pleas to increase Western aid in its fight against Russia.
“Romantic gestures take various forms,” reads the clip as images of roses, chocolate, nightfall on the Seine scroll by with the Eiffel Tower in the background. And even of two loving hands that intertwine. “But if you really want to win our hearts, nothing beats self-propelled, highly mobile 155mm artillery,” the 41-second film continues over footage of Caesar guns. With, in the background, the very erotic I love you too by Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin.
Six more Caesars
French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed last week that Paris was considering sending six additional Caesar cannons to Ukraine, in addition to the 18 already delivered. These cannons, the flagship of French artillery, have a range of 40 kilometres. “Thank you very much, France,” the French clip concludes in the text, with photos of the French and Ukrainian presidents, before continuing in English: “Send more please.”
The video, which has gone viral on social networks, is broadcast with these few words: “Sophie Marceau… Isabelle Adjani… Brigitte Bardot… Emmanuel Macron! … and the CAESARs! “. Its publication comes after two days of heavy bombardments on several Ukrainian cities and installations by the Russian army, which have revived the debate on the strengthening of kyiv’s defense capacities by its Western allies.
Anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles
France has also provided so far anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles, forward armored vehicles (VAB), fuel, individual equipment and around fifteen 155 mm TRF1 towed guns. It is studying the possibility of delivering 20 Bastion armored vehicles.
But according to the ranking established by the Kiel Institute for the World economy, France is only in 11th position for military support to Ukraine with 233 million euros in aid since the beginning of 2022, against 25 billion. for the United States, 4 billion for the United Kingdom, 1.8 billion for Poland and 1.13 billion for Germany.