The Ukrainian president was visiting the United Kingdom, then France, on Wednesday. Thursday, he is expected in Brussels.
It is the second time he has left his country since the beginning of the Russian invasion, after a trip to Washington via Poland in December. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was visiting the United Kingdom and then France on Wednesday February 8. He notably met British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Franceinfo summarizes the main developments of the day in the war in Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed at the Elysée
Emmanuel Macron welcomed the Ukrainian President to the Elysee Palace on Wednesday evening, in the presence of German Chancellor Olaf Sholz. The French Head of State assured his Ukrainian counterpart of his “determination” To “to accompany” Kyiv “to victory” and its desire to continue French arms deliveries to Ukraine, almost a year after the start of the Russian invasion. “We stand with Ukraine. Firmly. And with the determination to accompany it towards victory and the restoration of its legitimate rights”he said at a press conference. “We will continue the effort” in terms of deliveries of defense means”he added.
“What happens after Bakhmout?”, worries the Ukrainian president
The Ukrainian President estimated, in an interview with the Figaro and the German magazine Der Spiegel, that if the Russians took Bakhmout, a city in the east that had been the scene of bloody fighting for more than six months, they would have a “advantage” and would like “go further”. “Of course, from a strategic point of view, Bakhmout does not matter much because the Russians completely destroyed the city with their artillery. But if they take Bakhmout, they will want to go further. It will give them a advantage”he said, adding: “The question is what happens after Bakhmout?” “We have to take the time to receive weapons”said Volodymyr Zelensky.
British tanks in Ukraine next month
British Challenger tanks, promised by London to kyiv, will be operational “next month” in Ukraine, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told a press conference. “Ukrainian teams who arrived last week [pour se former au Royaume-Uni] will use Challenger 2 tanks to defend Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty next month,” he said, next to Volodymyr Zelensky. Before going to Paris, the latter indeed passed through the United Kingdom. He was assured there that “Nothing” was not “excluded” concerning the supply of armaments to Ukraine, including fighter jets requested by the Ukrainian President.
The Russian Embassy in Britain reacted quickly to this last possibility. “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.”the embassy said, quoted by Russian news agencies. “Russia will find a response to any hostile measure”she added.