A French company will supply arms worth €36M to Ukraine, and Slovakia has promised not to block private arms exports to Ukraine.

Ukrspecexport and French company Verney-Carron signed a contract to supply small arms and grenade launchers. Verney-Carron will deliver 10,000 assault and 2,000 sniper rifles, and 400 grenade launchers to Ukraine.

Implementing the framework contract is subject to providing the necessary financing, which Ukrainian and French sources can provide. The delivery of qualifying batches is scheduled for the beginning of 2024. The first serial deliveries are planned six months after the conclusion of the contract.

At the same time, Slovakia’s pro-Russian Prime Minister Robert Fico softened his campaign promise to end military aid to Ukraine and said his government would not block the supply of weapons and ammunition from private manufacturers. He added that the pre-election promise referred only to supplies from the Slovak army’s reserves.