After Rome, his meeting with Pope Francis and the passage through Berlin to resecure German Leopard tanks for his counteroffensive, Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski landed Sunday night in France, at the Villacoublay military base, to meet his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron during a working dinner.
When Ukraine fine-tunes the counteroffensive on the military front with Russia in Bakhmut, Prime Minister Elizabeth Borne received him at the base to accompany him to the Elysée, along with Foreign Minister Catherine Colona. He arrived on a second Falcon jet from the French Republic. In the first Falcón jet arrived his delegation and his security. The aircraft has a protected communication service and a military crew.
With the honors of the Republican Guard on the staff of the Elysee Palace, President Macron received Zelenski with a state visit protocol. They pose for photographers, shake hands and enter the palace for food.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron. AFP Photo
Second visit
With his classic Kaki uniform, Zelensky does not want to leave France without ammunition, without more Franco-French Storm Shadow long-range missiles, without a fighter jet like the Mirage, which are confiscated by the French but the Dassault have them stored, tanks, and rockets, like the Exocet missiles or the Matra. He travels in a heavily guarded armored van.
Ukraine cannot launch its counteroffensive if its logistics are not resolved: fuel, ammunition, weaponry, ready brigades, targets and intelligence.
Zelenskiy arrived in Paris in the late afternoon. The Ukrainian head of state arrived on Saturday in Italy and the Vatican, and this Sunday in Germany, with strong security measures. There are always risks of attack in their presence.
Zelenskiy and French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne. Photo Reuters
In his hypersecure convoy he passed by the Eiffel Tower, the Russian Orthodox cultural center, the Invalides, the French Chancellery, the National Assembly, the Place de la Concorde and finally the Elysee Palace.
This is the second visit of the Ukrainian head of state to Paris since the beginning of the Russian offensive in his country, in February 2022. Macron had already received him on February 8 at the Elysée, together with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Macron will "reaffirm France's unwavering support" in a hearing that is not official state but a working visit.
The Elysée confirmed this visit in a press release, published at the beginning of the afternoon, explaining that the heads of state will discuss "the urgent needs of Ukraine, at the military and humanitarian level."
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday in Rome. Photo ANSA
"As long as the country continues to suffer from bombardment, in particular on civilian infrastructure, the President of the Republic will reaffirm the unwavering support of France and Europe to restore Ukraine's legitimate rights and defend its fundamental interests," the presidency added.
The debate between the Heads of State will also focus on the "support that France continues to provide in response to Ukraine's urgent military and humanitarian needs", as well as "longer-term prospects for the return of peace to Europe".
Praise for Germany
Zelenskiy praised the military support provided by Germany, which he described as a "true friend" and "reliable ally", after the announcement of a new delivery of weapons to support the counteroffensive being prepared against Russia.
After months of Ukrainian annoyance over the German government's delay in handing over the weapons demanded by Kiev, the time has come for harmony between the two countries.
Pope Francis and Zelenskiy at the Vatican on Saturday. AP Photo
Zelensky was received by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, with military honors, on Sunday morning. He immediately received the Charlemagne Prize, a distinction that rewards commitment to European unification, in Aix-la-Chapelle (west). He then traveled to Paris.
During his visit to Berlin, Zelenskiy openly called on Olaf Scholz to support the efforts of several Kiev allies to deliver fighter jets to repel the Russian invasion.
"We are currently working on the creation of a coalition of fighter jets," Zelensky said. "I will also ask Germany to support Ukraine in this coalition," he added during a joint press conference with the German chancellor, who has so far refused to deliver aircraft directly to Ukraine.
The German chancellor replied: "I have said it many times and I will say it again today. We will support them for as long as necessary," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told a joint news conference. He added that Berlin's support for Kiev, including weapons, amounts so far to 17 billion euros. .
The planned deliveries include dozens of tanks, armored vehicles, surveillance drones and four new Iris-T air defense systems. The UK has announced the supply of Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine, becoming the first country to deliver this type of long-range weapon, which can strike at 250 kilometers.
In Italy
Ahead of his visit to Berlin, the Ukrainian president was received Saturday in Rome by Pope Francis and Italian leaders. This European tour comes amid preparations for an offensive by the Ukrainian army, as Kiev and Moscow claim success in and around Bakhmout in the Donbas region.
The Ukrainian president was received early in the morning, this Sunday, May 14, by the German head of state Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, to seal the promise of delivery of 2,700 million euros in weapons announced by Germany.
After Rome and the Vatican the day before, this is the Ukrainian president's first trip to Germany since the start of the conflict. He praised Germany's support, calling it a "true friend" and a "reliable ally."
Zelenskiy is currently trying to rally support in Europe as his army prepares a counteroffensive in the east of the country against Russian forces, while Kiev and Moscow claim successes in and around Bakhmut in the Donbas region.
It is up to Kiev to try to regain ground in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk (east), as well as in Kherson and Zaporiya (south), which Moscow has claimed as annexed.
Zelenskiy said Sunday that he did not want to "attack Russian territory" but only wanted to "liberate the illegitimately conquered territories."
PB
See also