At the same time, they follow Ukrainian television and a French news channel continuously. Andrii and Anna, two inhabitants of Chaufour-Notre-Dame of Ukrainian origin, follow with great anxiety the invasion of the country by the Russian army. Their whole family there, in the south and in Kiev, the capital and main target of the offensive.
A rally for peace in Ukraine will take place this Saturday at 3 p.m. in front of the Sarthe prefecture, and both will participate.
Freedom before croissants
The reaction of Western countries to the attack decided by Vladimir Putin disappointed Andrii: “Finally, the sanctions that are taken are quite light. It took a whole day of negotiations to decide on them, and they do not affect Russia’s main sources of income, such as gas. Germany is very attached to Russian gas, as we know. But the choice must be made: either gas or freedom. Right now, Europe’s freedom is at stake in Ukraine.” Anna puts it another way: “I hear French people worrying about the price of wheat. I understand but I think first of freedom, and then of croissants”.
Putin against democracy
For this couple, the Russian invasion is a question of values and not of language – besides Russian is their mother tongue to both. Since the Maidan revolution in 2014, Ukraine is more democratic. “That’s what scares Putin, analyzes Andrii. That the people take themselves in hand, it’s a danger for him, so he wants to destroy that”.
Anna speaks for her friends in Kiev, who hope for direct intervention from Western countries to “liberate the skies”: prevent the Russian air force from having air control and supporting its troops on the ground. “Each generation of Ukrainians has had to defend themselves against the Russians, continues the young woman. If the Russians no longer have this aerial advantage, our supporters can repel them”.