“We are coming back because we consider that the security conditions have become acceptable again”, says the French ambassador in kyiv

The French and European flags are once again flying in front of the French Embassy in kyiv. It is with a feeling of “very emotional” that the ambassador of France in Ukraine, Etienne de Poncins, as well as the staff of the embassy returned to the Ukrainian capital, Friday April 15, after a month and a half of absence. “When we left, we obviously didn’t know if we would have the opportunity to come back,” told franceinfo the French ambassador in the country.

>> War in Ukraine: follow the evolution of the situation in our live

Because at the time of their departure, “There were a lot of concerns. The city was almost surrounded by Russian forces. Today, we are returning because we consider that the security conditions have become acceptable again”, even though “the risk remains”.

After seven weeks at #Lviv, @FranceinUkraine very soon back to #Kiev. Solidarity is exercised as close as possible to the authorities.

Після семи тижнів у #Львові @FranceinUkraine незабаром повернеться до #Києва. Солідарність здійснюється якомога ближче до влади https://t.co/XsLodPbVkG

— Etienne de Poncins (@EdePoncins) April 14, 2022

As a reminder, the staff had left the Ukrainian capital for Lviv, a city in the west of the country, on February 28, four days after the start of the invasion of the country by the Russian army.