Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, seeking increased support ahead of his army’s announced counter-offensive, secured a renewed commitment from France, particularly in the field of light armor, during a dinner with Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee.
This meeting marks continuity in France’s military support for Ukraine, the question of the delivery of combat aircraft remaining “premature” in the eyes of Paris.
“In the weeks to come, France will train and equip several battalions with dozens of armored vehicles and light tanks, including AMX-10 RC”, is it specified in a joint declaration published at the end of the dinner.
France had undertaken at the beginning of 2023 to cede AMX-10 RC to Ukraine, often used in reconnaissance missions. Some copies of these vehicles have already been present on the battlefield since the beginning of spring. But the number of copies promised by France has never been disclosed.
The announcements made on Sunday are new, noted an adviser from the Elysée, without further details.
Paris is also focusing its “efforts on supporting Ukraine’s air defense capabilities” in order to protect populations from Russian bombing.
The two leaders also took stock of the military situation and the “security guarantees” to be provided to Ukraine, once the conditions for peace negotiations are met.
Volodymyr Zelensky was stopping in Paris after going to Rome on Friday, where he met Pope Francis, then to Berlin and Aachen over the weekend.
As soon as he landed on the Villacoublay military base, west of the capital, the Ukrainian president was welcomed by Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée. Brief hug, a few words of welcome to the sound of the Republican Guard and the two men rushed into the presidential palace for three hours of exchange, including one-on-one.
“With each visit, Ukraine’s defensive and offensive capabilities expand. Ties with Europe are strengthening, and the pressure on Russia is intensifying, tweeted Mr. Zelensky as his plane touched down on French soil.
This is Mr. Zelensky’s second visit to the Elysee Palace since the Russian offensive against his country in February 2022. He had already been there on February 8 alongside the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz.
“Reliable ally”
During this mini-European tour, the Ukrainian president received a prize in Germany honoring his contribution to the unity of the continent and will continue his consultations in Paris with a view to preparing a counter-offensive against Russia.
The German stage of Mr. Zelensky, the first since the beginning of the Russian invasion, marked a clear warming of relations between Berlin and Kiev, a time strained by the procrastination of the Chancellor to deliver the weapons claimed by Ukraine.
“We will support you as long as necessary,” assured Olaf Scholz, stressing that Berlin’s commitment, including armament, has so far amounted to 17 billion euros. This is the most important allied contribution after the United States, according to Mr. Zelensky.
Volodymyr Zelensky is mobilizing his support in Europe as his army prepares a counter-offensive in the east of the country against Russian forces. But in Berlin as in Paris, his request for combat aircraft has at this stage remained in vain.
For the expected offensive of the Ukrainian army, “the issue of combat aircraft is a priority for Ukraine […]. We need F-16s”, modern combat aircraft, to defend the Ukrainian skies, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff Andrei Yermak insisted on Sunday.
“premature” question
“The question is a bit premature,” reiterated an adviser to President Macron, recalling that this first required training pilots, a long and complex process.
The Ukrainian president’s diplomatic tour comes ahead of a summit of Council of Europe leaders in Reykjavik and a meeting of G7 leaders in Japan next week.
France said on Sunday that it would support new sanctions against Russia, as well as the continued strengthening of Kiev’s ties with NATO and the European Union.
Ukraine said on Sunday that it had taken over “more than ten Russian positions” in the suburb of Bakhmout (east), the epicenter of the fighting for several months. Moscow ensures for its part to continue its progress in the city, already mainly under its control and today largely devastated.
And the Russian Ministry of Defense said on Sunday that it had “touched” in Ternopil (west) and Petropavlivka (center-east) in Ukraine sites housing in particular Western weapons delivered to Kiev.