Ukraine: after London and before EU leaders, Zelensky is in Paris
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in Lulworth, England, Wednesday, February 8, 2023. AFP - PETER NICHOLLS
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4 mins
In the wake of his remarkable passage in London, Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Paris this Wednesday evening.
The Ukrainian president meets at the Élysée his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, but also the German chancellor Olaf Scholz.
He said he would meet with EU leaders on Thursday.
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President Macron dines in Paris with MM.
Zelensky and Scholz, with the aim of "
reaffirming the unfailing support
" of the Franco-German couple for Ukraine, "
and to continue the close coordination which makes it possible to respond with reactivity and efficiency to the needs expressed by Kiev
", according to the Elysium.
The three leaders were to speak to the press before meeting behind closed doors.
A dinner organized in haste, according to AFP.
Ukraine's president arrives from London, where he met Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the King, and where he spoke to Parliament, on his second trip abroad since the start of the war in his country, almost a year ago, after passing through Washington in December.
Thursday, Volodymyr Zelensky is then expected in Brussels, for an EU summit.
He confirmed it on Wednesday.
ukrainian president #zelensky will be speaking at the opening of the berlin film festival @berlinale next week (not yet clear if via video or on location).
He spoke at the Cannes and Venice festivals last year.
— Pascal Thibaut (@pthibaut) February 8, 2023
On planes, "nothing is excluded"
The Head of State's European tour comes as the first anniversary of the conflict approaches, on February 24.
A year ago to the day, Mr. Macron was also going to kyiv, on his way back from Moscow where he had not managed to avoid the outbreak of the Russian invasion.
In London, Volodymyr Zelensky hammered home his message: he asks Westerners to provide him with planes to fight Moscow.
Mr. Sunak has also taken a measured step towards him, asking the British army
to “study
” the possibility of delivering planes to the Ukrainian army on the “
long term
”.
The UK has been "
clear for a long time that when it comes to providing military aid to Ukraine, nothing is ruled out
", he said, during his press conference with Mr Zelensky.
And to add that aircraft deliveries "
are of course part of our discussions
".
"
We talked about it today, we had done it before and that's why we announced today that we will train members of the Ukrainian Air Force on NATO-standard platforms.
“, underlined the British leader.
“
It's a discussion we have with our allies, because some of the planes we have are made through joint treaties with several other countries.
»
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky among Ukrainian troops being trained to operate Challenger 2 tanks at a military installation in Lulworth on Wednesday (February 8th).
AP-Andrew Matthews
“Russia will find an answer”
These remarks did not fall on deaf ears.
The Russian embassy in Great Britain has indeed reacted.
"
I would like to remind officials in London: in such a scenario, the bloody harvest of the next round of escalation will be on your conscience, along with the military and political consequences for the European continent and the whole world
," she said. spear.
“
Russia will find a response to any hostile measure.
»
The press conference of MM.
Sunak and Zelensky took place at a site in southern England where Ukrainian soldiers are currently being trained to operate British Challenger 2 tanks promised in kyiv.
And if the trip of the Ukrainian leader to Paris will not give rise to a speech in front of Parliament, he assures that he will "
discuss
" all these subjects with EU leaders, as well as "
long-range missiles
" .
As for Rishi Sunak, he assures that the Challengers promised by his country will be operational from "
next month
" on the ground, confirming the timetable provided in January by his government, which had mentioned deliveries at the end of March.
"
Ukrainian teams that arrived last week (for training, editor's note) will use Challenger 2 tanks to defend Ukraine's territorial sovereignty next month
," he said.
With agencies
►Also read: Ukraine: possible aircraft deliveries mentioned during Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to London
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France
Ukraine
Germany
Volodymyr Zelensky
Emmanuel Macron
Olaf Scholz
European Union