Emmanuel Macron tells Volodymyr Zelensky his “determination” to “accompany” kyiv “towards victory”

This is his first visit to France since the start of the conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was visiting Paris on Wednesday February 8. He was welcomed at the Elysée Palace by Emmanuel Macron, also in the presence of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The three men then gave a joint press conference. “Russia cannot and should not win”said the French president, who spoke of military support “long-term”. He assured his Ukrainian counterpart of his “determination” To “to accompany” Ukraine “to victory” and its desire to continue French arms deliveries to kyiv, almost a year after the start of the Russian invasion. “We will also be there so that the war crimes of which the Russian soldiers are guilty are punished”he added.

Volodymyr Zelensky then took the floor. “The sooner Ukraine gets long range heavy weaponry, the sooner our pilots get planes, the sooner this Russian aggression will end and we could return to peace in Europe”, did he declare. The German Chancellor closed the press conference, assuring that the allies will support Ukraine militarily “as long as necessary”. The three men then went to dinner in the Elysée Palace.