French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated his military and diplomatic support to Ukraine for as long as necessary following a dinner in Paris with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but the Elysée said that sending fighter planes is still “premature”.
The visit to France had been “prepared for some time” but kept secret for security reasons, the Elysée Palace said.
France “will continue to provide political, financial, humanitarian and military support to Ukraine for as long as necessary,” the press services of the presidency said in a statement after the meeting.
On the military front, the two heads of state discussed the operations to come in the next few weeks and the counter-offensive that Ukraine is preparing in the Bakhmut region. It was, therefore “important for Mr Macron to listen to Mr Zelensky on his needs to win”, the statement said.
Currently, the Ukrainian army needs sky and ground supports. “France will continue its efforts in these areas”. Particularly the training of Ukrainian soldiers and the provision of “the most modern available” anti-aircraft defence systems, announced the Elysee the statement continued.
‘Premature’ to send fighter planes
On Monday evening, Macron will also announce the delivery of weapons, Elysée said. No figures have been released, but “France aims to provide complete capabilities in all areas”, they add.
On one hand, sending fighter planes remains “premature” insofar as “Ukrainian pilots have not been trained on French systems”. On the other hand, “nothing is closed, and training could be provided if necessary”.
On the diplomatic side, several events are being prepared for the coming weeks: the Council of Europe summit on 16 and 17 May in Reykjavik, Iceland, the G7 summit in Japan from 19 to 21 May, the European Political Community summit in Moldova on 1 June and the NATO summit in Vilnius in July.
The aim of these summits will be to “find measures for peace that involve the emerging countries”, according to the Élysée. Therefore, it will be necessary to find an “articulation of the peace plan proposed by President Zelensky” and on which “the French Republic is already working”, the Elysée said.
In Reykjavik, the talks will focus mainly on the “international justice” aspect of the conflict. In this context, France “encourages other countries to join them [with Ukraine] and to generate international support for the creation of an ad hoc tribunal” to judge crimes of aggression, the Elysée said.
For Ukraine to be compensated for the losses, injuries and damages of the Russian aggression, the presidency notes that the formalisation of an international register of damages in Reykjavik will be an “important step”.
Regarding humanitarian and financial assistance, France “will continue to step up its efforts”, Elysée said. On the food front, with support for the launch of the “Grain from Ukraine” programme, which aims to help countries suffering the consequences of the war on their food supplies.
Finally, “France firmly supports Ukraine in its reform efforts and in its desire to meet the necessary conditions by the end of 2023” to be a candidate for EU membership, the Elysée concluded.
(Paul Messad | EURACTIV.fr)
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