France says it will give Ukraine almost 200 million euros in interest payments on Russian assets

French Armed Forces Minister Jean-Yves Leconou said France would use interest from frozen Russian assets to give Ukraine 195 million euros for weapons purchases.

France also plans to hand over some of its older armored fighting vehicles, such as the AMX-10RC and personnel carriers, Le Konou said in an interview with the weekly Tribune newspaper.

"We were able to get 195 million euros from the interest on the frozen assets in Russia." Leconu said the money would be used to supply Ukraine with 155mm artillery shells and glide bombs used in Mirage 2000 fighter jets.

The G7 agreed last year to provide Ukraine with $50 billion in a series of bilateral loans, which Kiev could repay using windfall profits from $300 billion in frozen Russian state assets.