The Ukrainian president landed in France this Sunday evening, after a visit to Italy, then to Germany. He will meet with Emmanuel Macron, during a working dinner.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky landed in Paris this Sunday evening to meet with Emmanuel Macron. He was welcomed at Villacoublay air base (Yvelines) by Elisabeth Borne, before being welcomed by the French head of state at the Élysée.
According to information from BFMTV, at the same time, Dmytro Kuleba, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, was received at the Quai d’Orsay by his French counterpart, Catherine Colonna.
This is the second visit by the head of Volodymyr Zelensky to Paris since the start of the Russian offensive in his country in February 2022. Emmanuel Macron had already received him on February 8 at the Élysée, alongside the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Emmanuel Macron “will reaffirm the unwavering support of France”
In a press release, published at the start of the evening, the Élysée explained that the heads of state will discuss the “urgent needs of Ukraine, on the military and humanitarian levels.
“While the country continues to suffer from bombardments, in particular on civilian infrastructure, the President of the Republic will reaffirm the unwavering support of France and Europe to restore Ukraine to its legitimate rights and defend its fundamental interests”, added the presidency.
The discussion between the Heads of State will also focus on the “support that France continues to provide in response to Ukraine’s urgent military and humanitarian needs”, as well as “the longer-term prospects for return of peace to Europereturn of peace to Europe”.
This is the second visit by the Ukrainian head of state to Paris since the start of the Russian offensive in his country in February 2022. Emmanuel Macron had already received him on February 8 at the Élysée, alongside the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Germany, a “reliable ally” for Zelensky
Traveling to Germany on Sunday, Volodymyr Zelensky praised the military support provided by Germany, which he described as a “true friend” and “reliable ally” after the announcement of a new delivery of arms to support the counter-offensive being prepared against Russia.
After months of Ukrainian annoyance at the procrastination of the German government to deliver the weapons demanded by kyiv, the time has now come for harmony between the two countries.
Volodymyr Zelensky was received by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, with military honors, on Sunday morning. He immediately received the Charlemagne Prize, a distinction rewarding a commitment to European unification, in Aix-la-Chapelle (west). He was then to go to Paris.
Before his visit to Berlin, the Ukrainian president was received on Saturday in Rome by Pope Francis and Italian leaders. This European tour comes amid preparations for an offensive by the Ukrainian army, as kyiv and Moscow both claim success in and around Bakhmout in the Donbass region.
