Ukraine’s defense minister canceled his planned visit to France on Thursday for “security reasons”.

France and European countries are not “not the same” Expectations from Ukraine, which urgently needs ammunition, French senators lamented on Wednesday. “National and European production is very low, the economy is not living up to the expectations that have been placed” The Ukrainians insisted on Cedric Perrin (Les Républiques), chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, who accompanied a delegation to Warsaw and Kiev from December 19 to 21.

The Ukrainians fire 5,000 to 8,000 times a day (compared to between 10,000 and 15,000 on the Russian side), he explained during a press conference, adding that France produces 20,000 155 mm shells per year. “Equivalent to three or four days of fighting in Ukraine…”

Of the target of 1 million weapons promised by the European Union by spring 2024, only 300,000 shells have been delivered, Mr. Perrin said. “Now is the time to act, now Ukraine needs our help”he said.

“Today, no account”Even with French aid, including Caesar cannons and long-range Scalp missiles “admirable” in Kiev.

The senator explained “good news” The delivery of 40 scalps was announced by French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday evening and “Hundred Bombs”While warning: “Declarations must be concrete and implemented. Talking about hundreds of bombs, if we are talking about 155 mm shells, about 25,000 are flying over Ukraine a day, so it makes no sense.. We now need to change the scale on ammunition.he repeated.

“The situation is serious for Ukrainians at the moment”

For his part, Socialist Senator Jean-Marc Vysoz-Foren warned, highlighting the crucial aspect of the number of men in particular.

In their report, the senators, relying on Ukrainian sources, estimated that 30,000 new Russian troops were arriving at the front every month. “On the Ukrainian side, the fighters are the same ones who came to the front two years ago”During the Russian invasion, he stressed.

A senatorial report entitled “Why Europe’s Future is at Stake in Ukraine” recommends increasing the number of munitions production chains to be able to put the issues of the conflict at the center of public debate and produce. “Several million shells per year”and developing the presence of French companies in Ukraine to prepare for reconstruction.