'Romantic gestures take many forms': Ukraine posts video asking France to send more weapons

Ukraine’s Defense Ministry posted a video to Twitter on Wednesday asking France to show Kyiv its love by sending more weapons to fight Russia’s war on the sovereign nation, which is now in its eighth month.

“Romantic gestures take many forms,” says a message at the beginning of the whimsical 40-second clip set to Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin’s classic song "Je T'Aime Moi Non Plus," as images of roses, chocolate and lovers holding hands near the Eiffel Tower are displayed on the screen.

"But if you really want to win our hearts, nothing beats 155mm heavy self-propelled artillery,” a message reads, before cutting to an image of a mobile rocket launcher firing a missile and then being loaded onto a cargo plane.

The video also includes photos of French President Emmanuel Macron smiling and shaking hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“Merci beaucoup, France,” reads a message at the end of the clip. “Please send us more."

The video was posted hours after a French security cabinet meeting, during which Macron took "new decisions to 'support Ukraine militarily,'" according to Reuters. France has already delivered Caesar howitzers, portable air defense systems and heavy armored vehicles to aid in Ukraine’s defense, but had been unwilling to provide more.

French President Emmanuel Macron, smiling broadly, puts a reassuring hand on the shoulder of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who points upward with great enthusiasm.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. (Screengrab via Twitter/Ukraine Defense Ministry)

It also comes just days after a wave of deadly attacks on Ukrainian cities followed the bombing of a bridge connecting Russia to occupied Crimea.

On Monday, Russia launched 75 missiles, 41 of which were shot down by Ukraine’s air defenses, according to Valerii Zaluzhnyi, commander in chief of Ukraine’s armed forces.

Ukraine’s National Police said that least five people were killed in Kyiv, with 12 more injured, although the final toll for fatalities and casualties is likely to be much higher.

The explosions shattered months of relative calm, far from the frontlines, where Ukrainian forces have been steadily pushing back the Russian advance.

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