Ukraine: a week after the start of the war, French people are still stranded there

Solène Leroux 5:55 p.m., March 03, 2022

The milestone of one million Ukrainian refugees is therefore reached on Thursday.

The United Nations expects the flow to increase further in the coming weeks due to the intensification of the Russian offensive.

This is also the sentiment of the Quai d'Orsay, particularly in the case of Kiev.

The capital, again bombarded this night, is about to be besieged by the army of Moscow.

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs sends an SMS to French people located in the capital and urging them to seize "what could be the last opportunity to leave the city".

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"In my opinion, I will leave tomorrow or the day after tomorrow," said Jacques, a French pensioner there, who is waiting for his wife in Kiev.

"There will be no security, but we have to take the risk because there, there are booms everywhere, they are bombing everywhere now, it is becoming madness", he assures.

"My wife was able to find gasoline, so she goes down with the car."

The retiree would have liked to leave instead: "If my wife had been there, it's obvious that we would have already left, but she wasn't there so I'm waiting for her."

Jacques is also not reassured to know it far away.

"I'm worried because she has 200 kilometers to go and it's not going to be easy on the road. I don't know what time she's going to arrive."

Hundreds of French people still there

For its part, France continues to push its nationals to leave the country.

Anne Genetet, MP for French people living outside France, LREM MP for the 11th constituency including French people residing in Eastern Europe, was the guest of

.

The authorities do not know the exact number of French people still on the spot, "about a few hundred, probably 600-700", explained the deputy to the miro of Romain Desarbres.

"It's hard to say because if you want our services have identified about 1,000 French people who had reported themselves between those who had left and those who were passing through," she explained.

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An additional difficulty was added, the tracing of these French people, "knowing who managed to leave, who managed to cross the border", detailed Anne Genetet.

And the reason why it is difficult for France to be precise is simple: "When you cross a border and finally find yourself after an extremely long and grueling journey through Poland, Romania or Moldova, your first idea is not necessarily to call the consulate and tell them: 'I left the country.'"

The French safe in Russia

How will the next repatriations be organized in the next few hours?

"It depends where you are in Ukraine. The exit can be through Moldova or Hungary."

But the "context is extremely difficult since "the whole country is at war" and that "there are checkpoints everywhere and traffic signs that have been modified on purpose to lose Russian troops". Yves Le Drian is also going to Moldova today.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also calling on the French to leave Russia if they find themselves there, for a non-compelling or non-essential reason.

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According to Anne Genetet, the safety of the French on the spot "is absolutely not in danger" and "nor is there any animosity on the part of the Russians towards the French community".

On the other hand, she specifies, "the sanctions have an immediate effect which makes daily life extremely difficult".

Indeed, European sanctions have a lasting impact on daily life in Russia: "The ruble is no longer convertible into euros. It is complicated to pay certain bills. Certain Visa and MasterCard credit cards may be impossible to use on site", said detailed the MP.

For these reasons, it is therefore "recommended to those who do not have the obligation to stay in Russia to consider leaving it by the means that have been described: air and land,

France will welcome refugees

Emmanuel Macron made it clear in his speech: "We are not at war with Russia."

While the million Ukrainian refugees has just been exceeded, in what proportions will France welcome refugees?

“It all depends on the existing communities in each of the countries”, assured Anne Genetet, explaining that “France has around 17,000 Ukrainians who have a residence permit in France”, while certain neighboring countries have larger communities.

"It is quite natural that Ukrainians go to join their families and their communities as a priority, so it is not certain that France will have a very large influx."

However, "despite everything, we will have Ukrainians who may not yet have families in Europe" detailed the LREM MP.

France will play its full part in this humanitarian crisis, says Anne Genetet.

"Gérald Darmanin announced it this morning: six-month residence permits, renewable for up to three years, with work permits and social protection, will be offered" to Ukrainians.