Zelensky – Macron conversation on heavy weapons and the EU

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Thursday that he had discussed with his French counterpart Emanuel Macron the French military assistance to Ukraine, “including heavy weapons”, as later clarified by the French presidency, and his candidacy for the presidency. European Union.

Through Twitter, Mr. Zelensky assured that he informed Mr. Macron about the “situation on the front” with the Russian forces. “We discussed further defense support for Ukraine,” he said, adding that “special attention was paid to Ukraine’s accession to the EU.”

Paris confirmed in a press release that it had made public the telephone conversation between the two heads of state. Mr Macron was briefed by Mr Zelensky “on the latest developments in the field, as well as on the needs for military equipment, political support, financial support and humanitarian aid”.

The French president assured his Ukrainian counterpart that Paris “will continue to mobilize to meet Ukraine’s needs, including for heavy weapons.”

The two heads of state “agreed to stay in touch, in particular with a view to the European Commission ‘s opinion on Ukraine’ s candidacy for membership of the European Union, and to the debate that will follow at the European Council on 23 and 24 June”.

The meeting followed a wave of criticism from Kiev to Paris following Mr Macron’s call not to “humiliate Russia”.

Mr Macron, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency until July 1, has been under recent pressure from Kyiv, which is also awaiting a visit following the start of the Russian offensive on February 24.

Source: AMPE