The French and Ukrainian presidents, Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky, discussed on Saturday by telephone the situation on the front and “Ukraine’s needs” in arms and ammunition.
“We discussed the situation on the battlefield and Ukraine's defense needs, which include drones, artillery and ammunition, electronic warfare and air defense systems,” he said. writes the Ukrainian president on X (formerly Twitter), describing the appeal as “very positive and concrete”, thanking France for its “unwavering support”.
I spoke with @EmmanuelMacron and thanked him and the French people for their unwavering support.
A very positive and focused call, which is exactly what is required right now.
We talked about the battlefield situation and Ukraine's defense needs, which include drones, artillery… pic.twitter.com/KfnAdNsoXH
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 10, 2024
A bilateral security agreement soon to be concluded
The Élysée confirmed for its part that the two leaders had discussed “the evolution of the situation on the ground and the needs of Ukraine”.
“The President of the Republic reiterated France's determination to provide all the necessary support, over time and with all of its partners, to defeat Russia's war of aggression,” according to the same source. .
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The two men also spoke about the bilateral security agreement that France and Ukraine are soon considering concluding, following the example of the one recently concluded by kyiv with the United Kingdom.
The French president said in mid-January during a press conference that he would go to Ukraine “in February”.
Questioned on Saturday, Emmanuel Macron's entourage assured that he would go to Ukraine soon, without further details.
The head of state then indicated that France was “in the process of finalizing a security agreement” with kyiv, planning to announce it during his visit there.
Escalation of tensions with Russia
France's support for Ukraine has in recent weeks caused an escalation of tensions with Russia, which has castigated French "militarist frenzy" in the face of the promise of new arms deliveries to kyiv.
Russian Ambassador to France Alexei Mechkov was summoned to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday after the death of two French humanitarian workers in Russian strikes in Ukraine the previous week.
Paris also says it is the target of a “resurgence of disinformation targeting France” and maintained by Moscow.