French President Emmanuel Macron received Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Élysée on June 7. During a joint press conference, Volodymyr Zelensky thanked France for its support, while Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed France’s military and diplomatic support for Ukraine.
3 mins
The French president Emmanuel Macron announced Friday that he wanted “ finalize a coalition » of countries ready to send Ukraine military instructors, ensuring that “ several » France’s partners had already given their agreement, without revealing which ones.
“ Several of our partners have already given their agreement » And “We will use the coming days to finalize a coalition », declared the Head of State, from the Élysée during a joint press conference with Volodymyr Zelenskyjudging the request of his Ukrainian counterpart “ legitimate “.
The latter said to himself “ grateful for this initiative » and thanks France for its increased military support. “ We are moving towards efficiency, the path will be shorter, more practical » to train Ukrainian soldiers, explained Volodymyr Zelensky, while a law recently came into force in Ukraine to mobilize more men. The French president also responded to the statement by the spokesperson for the Russian embassy in France, saying that these instructors would be a “ legitimate target “. “ Who would we be to give in to Russia’s invocations or threats? “, he retorted.
Because the security of all of Europe is at stake, France will continue to stand alongside Ukraine. United and stronger together. pic.twitter.com/zkudUuc306
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 7, 2024
Emmanuel Macron also announced that training for Ukrainian pilots and mechanics would begin “ in the coming days » on French soil, to prepare them to eventually use Mirage 2000-5 fighter planes that France intends to sell to Ukraine. However, he refused to reveal the number of devices that will be sold. The visit of the Ukrainian president also made it possible to materialize financial aid, with the priority being support for energy infrastructures targeted by Russian attacks.
Read alsoTransfer of Mirage 2000-5 to Ukraine: reversal of the French presidential position
Russia reacted to France’s announcements of aid to Ukraine. According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov, President Macron’s announcements of military support for Ukraine show that France is “ ready to participate directly in the conflict “.
Diplomatic support for Ukraine
On the diplomatic level, the Head of State also promised that “ France will continue » to support Ukraine, “ to try to obtain the effective launch of accession negotiations [à l’Union européenne] by the end of the month. »
The Ukrainian president also discussed diplomatic prospects and the Summit on Peace in Ukraine organized in a week in Switzerland.
What is needed for the success of the summit in Switzerland is, first of all, the representation of leaders from all countries. Do not be afraid of the Russian Federation. It is an inauguration summit, it is a first step, but surely a step towards the end of the war to demonstrate that the whole world is on the side of those who want the end of this war and those who wish to help the Ukraine to move closer to this peace. A just and solid peace, not for an hour, not for a month, but forever.
Volodymyr Zelensky details the conditions for the summit in Switzerland to produce results
“ Justice is not about making concessions », says Volodymyr Zelensky when asked about what his country could accept during the summit which will take place without Russia.
Emmanuel Macron also promised to repeat at the next NATO summit his “ commitment to bringing Ukraine closer irreversibly » of the Atlantic Alliance. Finally, he strongly attacked some of his opponents, notably in France, who reproach him for his position on Ukraine, accusing some “ pacifists » to be “ capitulators “.