President Emmanuel Macron “declares that France is ready to participate directly in the military conflict in Ukraine”, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that Macron’s statements are “very, very provocative, they aggravate the escalation in continent and do not lead to anything positive.” Meanwhile, today Volodymyr Zelensky arrives in Paris after participating yesterday in the D-Day commemorations in Normandy. “Europe is no longer a continent of peace,” declared Kiev’s number one. “What happens to Ukraine today could happen to other countries tomorrow,” the Ukrainian president declared to the French Parliament, after thanking France “for being at our side to defend life.” The president of the French National Assembly, Yael Braun-Pivet, assured him that Paris “will never stop” supporting Kiev. Today, Zelensky will join Macron at the Elysée, where he will sign two agreements for loans and donations which will amount to 650 million euros. The first agreement provides for providing the French Development Agency with “funds of 400 million in loans and 50 in donations until 2027 to extend its activities in Ukraine”, in the fields of energy and transport. The second agreement provides support for critical infrastructures, with an allocation of 200 million euros “to accompany French companies in future contracts in the energy, transport, water, healthcare and agriculture sectors”.
Towards the Conference in Switzerland
In his speech before the French deputies, the Ukrainian leader declared: «It is in Ukraine that the key to the security of all of Europe lies. NATO’s eastern frontier cannot be interrupted by a gray zone outside the alliance.” He then added that “without control of Ukraine, Russia will remain a normal national state and not a colonial empire constantly seeking new territories.” As for Moscow, he reiterated: «Can Putin win this battle? No, because we have no right to lose it. We can certainly win this battle. Ukraine, and therefore Europe. Europe, and therefore France.” According to the Ukrainian president, Kiev could also soon have its D-Day with the Peace Conference in Switzerland scheduled for June 15 and 16. Conference which, in his opinion, could bring the country closer “to the end of the war”.
