what to remember from Emmanuel Macron’s visit to kyiv

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They came “carrying a message of European unity to Ukraine”. The French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi visited Ukraine for the first time on Thursday June 16, since the start of the Russian invasion on February 24. A trip that ended with the announcement of France’s decision to grant Ukraine the status of candidate country for membership of the European Union (EU).

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The visit, eagerly awaited by President Volodymyr Zelensky, was also a way for the French head of state to give pledges to his Ukrainian counterpart, while relations between the two men had deteriorated over the months. Franceinfo summarizes this day for you.

A trip by train

The plane was not an option, the Ukrainian airspace being closed, Emmanuel Macron therefore had to take the train to go to kyiv. The French Head of State embarked on the night of Wednesday to Thursday, on board a train berth of the Ukrainian railway company, along with his German and Italian counterparts. Leaving at midnight from the Polish town of Rzeszów, located about 100 kilometers from the border, the convoy arrived at 8:30 a.m. in the Ukrainian capital.

Alongside the German Chancellor, Emmanuel Macron, surrounded by a large security device, said on the quay that he had come to address “a message of European unity” and of “support” in Kyiv “both for the present and for the future”.

A visit to the martyr city of Irpin

Just off the train, the three European heads of state headed for the martyr city of Irpin. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, who was traveling separately, joined them. In the midst of gutted buildings and cars riddled with bullets, they were able to seize all the “barbarity” of the war in Ukraine and Russian war crimes. “Irpin as Boutcha became a symbol of the unimaginable cruelty of the Russian war”was moved Olaf Scholz, while Emmanuel Macron described Irpin as “heroic city marked by barbarism”and that Mario Draghi promised “to rebuild everything”.

French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi in Irpin (Ukraine), June 16, 2022. (LUDOVIC MARIN / POOL / AFP)

On the 113th day of war, the four European leaders were also accompanied by the Ukrainian Minister for Decentralization, Oleksiï Chernychov, who expressed his desire to rebuild as quickly as possible. “That’s the right message. It’s very moving to see that.”launched Emmanuel Macron, in English, in front of a graffiti “Make Europe Not War” (“Make Europe, not war”).

An agreement for a membership application

Back in kyiv, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Mario Draghi and Klaus Iohannis met Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelynsky, at the presidential palace. With the key image of the day: the embrace of the two leaders, as shown in a photo posted by the French head of state on Twitter.

After another symbolic handshake between the two Heads of State, the four European leaders declared themselves, during a press conference, in favor of granting “immediate” official candidate status for EU membership, as Ukraine has been demanding since the beginning of the Russian invasion. An announcement that comes on the eve of the long-awaited recommendation from the European Commission. The Twenty-Seven must agree at a summit on June 23 and 24 if they authorize Ukraine to initiate the process of applying for membership.

“All four of us support immediate candidate status for membershipdeclared Emmanuel Macron. This status will be accompanied by a roadmap and will also involve taking into account the situation in the Balkans and the neighbourhood, in particular Moldova.” A few minutes earlier, the Ukrainian president had defended his approach to his counterparts:

“Our country is ready to do everything to become a member of the European Union. Our whole country aspires to it.”

Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine

to Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz and Mario Draghi

The French President also took advantage of the press conference to announce the delivery to Ukraine of “six additional Caesars”, self-propelled guns renowned for their accuracy. Paris has already delivered a dozen to Ukrainian power. “You can count on us. Ukraine can count on us”concluded Emmanuel Macron.


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