“Our country will never forget” the help of France, says the former Ukrainian Prime Minister

“Ukrainians very much appreciate that the hearts of ordinary French people beat in unison with Ukrainian hearts. The French people have welcomed more than 100,000 of our refugees (…). Ukraine will never forget your help”. On the eve of the anniversary of the start of the war, the muse of the Orange Revolution, Yulia Tymoshenko, confided in franceinfo in kyiv, Thursday, February 23.

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Yulia Tymoshenko remembers February 24, 2022, the day “the scariest of [sa] life, of that of [sa] family, of the life of every Ukrainian.” A year later, a Ukrainian victory remains possible, according to the former Ukrainian Prime Minister. “Vladimir Putin wanted to invade Kiev, he wanted to lead the country and none of these goals have been achieved. Ukraine on its side, with its friends and partners, has already liberated more than a thousand localities.”

“If we don’t stop this war, it will be like a fire in the forest: it will affect other European countries.”

Yulia Tymoshenko

on franceinfo

MP renews confidence in Volodymyr Zelensky. “The president is doing everything that needs to be done. The main thing is to stop the aggression now by allowing it to win, by providing it with weapons (…). A quick victory depends only on weapons (.. .) and the speed of their delivery. It seems to me that the President of France understands this very well.” On January 31, Emmanuel Macron announced that France would provide Ukraine with 12 additional 155 mm Caesar guns, in addition to the 18 already delivered. “It is a very strong help for Ukraine”reacts Yulia Tymoshenko.

The reception of Ukrainian refugees in France cost nearly 500 million euros, mainly for accommodation and the allowance paid to some 100,000 displaced people living in the territory, the Interior Ministry announced on Thursday. Women represent 80% of the refugees received in France, between March 10, 2022 and January 30, 2023.