The Élysée has confirmed the arrival of Volodymyr Zelensky this Wednesday in Paris. He will meet Emmanuel Macron for the second time since the start of the war in Ukraine.
[Mise à jour le 8 février à 20h28] Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris. After his trip to the United Kingdom this Wednesday, February 8, the President of the Ukrainian Republic is expected shortly before 9 p.m. at Orly airport, says LCI. Upon his arrival in France, Volodymyr Zelensky said he was welcomed by the Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, reports for his part BFM TV. The Head of State will however take the direction of the Élysée directly, where he must meet Emmanuel Macron as well as the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. As a reminder, a tripartite France-Germany-Ukraine meeting had already taken place in Paris in 2021 (read below).
Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Paris is part of a European tour. On Wednesday, the Ukrainian president traveled to London, his second visit abroad, after that to the United States last December. While in London, Volodymyr Zelensky met British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. He also spoke in Parliament and held talks with King Charles III. After passing through Paris on Wednesday evening, Volodymyr Zelensky is expected in Brussels on Thursday. Summit meetings, mainly fueled by the hope of obtaining more equipment and aid from the Europeans, while the war is still raging in Ukraine, after nearly a year of fierce fighting.
What relationship between Volodymyr Zelensky and Emmanuel Macron?
Before his arrival in Paris, Volodymyr Zelensky confided in the Figaro. The opportunity in particular for him to address his special relationship with Emmanuel Macron. A relationship that has not always been good. As the daily reminded us, the French president has, at times, had expressions that have no more to the Ukrainian head of state, such as when at the very beginning of the conflict, Emmanuel Macron had asked not to “humiliate Russia”. Today, Volodymyr Zelensky, says he believes that the French president “has changed”. “And that he changed for real this time.”
And Volodymyr Zelensky justifies his thinking: “After all, it was he who opened the door to tank deliveries. He also supported Ukraine’s candidacy for the European Union. I think he was a real signal.” Referring to the many conversations between kyiv, Paris, Berlin “and other countries”, Volodymyr Zelensky assures him: “Confidence is real today.”
Telephone exchanges and a meeting
Volodymyr Zelensky and Emmanuel Macron had exchanged by telephone on January 4. During this meeting, the French president had announced to his counterpart the delivery of French-made light combat tanks, as well as 63 high-power electrical generators and five million LED bulbs as part of the support operation for the Ukraine, at war with Russia since February 24, 2022. A new call, the 23rd between the two men since the start of the fighting, made on January 24, made it possible to take stock of the situation.
Tonight’s meeting between Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky will be the second between the two leaders since the start of the war in Ukraine. On June 16, it was the tenant of the Élysée who went to kyiv to support his counterpart. He had also visited Irpin, affected by massacres of civilians. His visit, alongside other European leaders, was completed by the announcement of support for Ukraine to obtain the “status of immediate candidate for membership” of the European Union as well as the delivery of six Caesar guns, bringing the total to 18.
Already two visits to Paris
If the arrival of Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris will be the first since Russia attacked Ukraine, the ex-professional in the world of cinema has already visited the French capital twice with his leadership cap. The first time, on December 9, 2019 – a few months after coming to power – he was invited to the Elysee Palace by Emmanuel Macron for a summit with Angela Merkel, then German Chancellor, and … Vladimir Poutine. A face-to-face meeting with Putin had even taken place to discuss the Donbass, without any progress being made.
Less than two years later – on April 16, 2021 – Volodymyr Zelensky returned to the Palace as renewed tension emerged between kyiv and Moscow, with the Russians having positioned troops near the border with Ukraine. Both, as well as Angela Merkel also invited, had called for a Russian de-escalation. In vain.