Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov has canceled a trip to meet his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu “for security reasons,” several media outlets have reported. The two officials are instead expected to hold talks via video link later on Thursday, as Paris prepares to launch an “artillery coalition” in support of Kiev.
The cancellation of Umerov’s trip had been announced at the last minute. The two defense chiefs had reportedly planned to visit industrial sites in Bourges owned by weapons manufacturer Nexter, where self-propelled Caesar howitzers are assembled, as well as a facility in Selles-Saint-Denis owned by missile manufacturer MBDA, Le Monde and France 24 reported on Thursday.
Source: RT, January 18, 2024