Jean-Luc Boujon (correspondent in Lyon) // Photo credit: Xose Bouzas / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP 7:43 a.m., February 16, 2024

Ukrainian refugees are closely watching Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Paris this Friday. For its 85,000 refugees, the only obsession is to one day be able to return home. In the meantime, they try to continue living like Natalia and her two sons in Lyon.

In a few days, it will be two years since the war between Russia and Ukraine broke out. The specter of a long war has become even stronger in recent months with the failure of the Ukrainian counter-offensive and Russia which has scored points. In France, Ukrainian refugees helplessly watch what is happening, like Natalia, 37 years old.

She arrived in France a year and a half ago, from Karkhiv. She is one of the 85,000 Ukrainian refugees in France. Since then, she has been staying with her two sons in a host family. She spends her days learning French and helping out in an association. A life that suits her, she explains.

“As soon as the war is over, I will return to Ukraine”

"I love my life today in France. I really like the people I have the opportunity to meet. I try to adapt, to make sure that everything is comfortable enough for my children, too. to show them that life goes on,” she says.

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A return to Ukraine is not on the agenda, because the bombings on Karkhiv are daily. But her goal is to return to the country as soon as she can. "As soon as the war is over, I'm going back to Ukraine. Members of my family still stay there. It's been a year and a half since I saw them. I miss them, like my man who is still in Ukraine" , she explains.

In the meantime, Natalia is building her life here in France. This Thursday, she performed in a choir, singing Ukrainian and French songs in front of an audience. The country's president, Volodymyr Zelensky is traveling to France this Friday where he will be received by Emmanuel Macron to sign a bilateral security agreement.