From one surprise visit to another, from London to Paris, Volodymyr Zelensky’s message did not vary one iota, Wednesday February 8: the Ukrainian president multiplied calls to receive ” as soon as possible “ fighter planes and heavy weapons in order to resist any new Russian offensive and recover the occupied territories.
If no concrete announcement has been unveiled, his tour, which was to continue Thursday in Brussels, was his second trip outside his country since the outbreak of the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, two months after his trip to Washington. . In the United States, the Ukrainian head of state had come to ensure, shortly before Christmas, that the Biden administration and especially the House of Representatives, which was about to come under the control of the Republicans, would continue to support soldier, who, in general opinion, enabled his country to contain, if not completely repel, the Russian invader. In London as in Paris, where Mr. Zelensky found the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, alongside Emmanuel Macron, it was rather a question of encouraging European leaders to increase their support, much less important than that of Washington. , in an attempt to win the war.
The message is addressed above all to France and Germany, whose military restraint and long-displayed concern to speak to Vladimir Putin have often offended the Ukrainian president since the start of hostilities. Between kyiv and Paris and, even more, between kyiv and Berlin, the climate has often been electric over the past twelve months, but everyone is making efforts to show their goodwill, when new Russian attacks are feared. Emmanuel Macron “changed for real this time, estimated Volodymyr Zelensky, in an interview with FigaroFebruary 8. After all, it was he who opened the door to tank deliveries. »
Zelensky: “Paris and Berlin can be a game-changer”
“The crime of aggression cannot be tolerated, let alone by a power such as Russia”assured Emmanuel Macron, alongside Volodymyr Zelensky, in the large winter lounge of the Elysée. “Russia cannot, and should not, win,” he stressed, promising, without specifying his intentions, the continuation of arms deliveries. Olaf Scholz paid tribute to the ” courage “ and at the “tenacity” Ukrainians.
“France and Germany can be game changers and that’s how I see our discussions today. The sooner we will have long-range weapons and modern aircraft (…)the sooner Russia’s aggression will end”underlined the Ukrainian president, barely arrived at the Elysée, while Emmanuel Macron had just insisted on the need, one day or another after ” victory “ of Ukraine, of “building peace”.
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