By Nicolas Barotte
Published 10 hours ago, updated 36 minutes ago
” data-script=”https://static.lefigaro.fr/widget-video/short-ttl/video/index.js” >
The French president will receive his Ukrainian counterpart at the Élysée this Friday.
As expected, Emmanuel Macron will not travel to Kiev and will receive Volodymyr Zelensky at the Élysée Palace. On Friday, the two heads of state will officially sign a bilateral security agreement between France and Ukraine. “It's about showing that our determination to support Ukraine is as strong as it was on day one,” said the Elysée Palace. This is subject to the passage of time, two years after the start of the Russian invasion. Kiev's supporters need to find a framework to make their approach “long-term” and convince Russian President Vladimir Putin that time will not be on his side.
Before landing in France, Volodymyr Zelensky is expected in Berlin, where he will sign a similar agreement with Chancellor Olaf Scholz. English Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was the first Western leader to commit in January. All of this represents “an archipelago of agreements that send a signal of support,” they argue in the Élysée Palace. Volodymyr Zelensky would undoubtedly have saved time if he had negotiated a single text with his partners. But each country has its preferences, its precautions and its resistance. In Europe, the prospect of a collapse in American aid, the sacrifice of the election campaign and the decision to prioritize combating the Chinese threat is a growing concern. “The question is how to help Ukraine in a scenario” where US support wanes, an international relations expert summarizes.
In July, during the NATO summit in Vilnius, allies ruled out the idea of immediately inviting Ukraine to join the alliance. For France, the guarantee it gave would have been worth all the arms deliveries to Russia. Too complicated and too dangerous, responded the USA and Germany, who did not want to take the risk of a spiral. While the alliance was still opening the way to membership, particularly through the creation of a NATO-Ukraine Council, the G7 countries were determined to formalize their support. Other countries have joined the process. 25 contracts could be signed once Volodymyr Zelensky completes his harvest.
Armament of the Ukrainian army
The content of the French-Ukrainian text will be published on Friday evening. The two presidents will then hold a press conference. In January, the UK signed a 10-year agreement to formalize military and non-military assistance to Ukraine. The text also stipulates that the two parties will consult each other “within twenty-four hours” in the event of new Russian aggression. The agreement does not go as far as the solidarity provisions provided for in Article 5 of the NATO Treaty. To give substance to its support, London quantified its commitment: £2.3 billion in military aid in 2024.
The French agreement should also contain figures. Paris wants to respond to its critics who complain about the “opacity” of French deliveries. With 8 billion euros in aid for Ukraine, Germany has taken the lead in Europe. Even if it contradicts the IfW ranking, France is far behind. Paris and Berlin watch each other in disbelief.
At the Élysée we also promise to “listen to the needs of Ukraine.” President Emmanuel Macron should not announce a new arms transfer that seeks to establish a new logic, that of direct arms production for Ukraine. With this, Nexter has committed to being able to deliver its entire production of 78 Caesar cannons to Ukraine, provided an order is placed… For now, only the order for 18 cannons has been formalized. In a few weeks, the Air Force will also begin basic training for Ukrainian pilots before they switch to F-16s. The delivery of the French Mirage is not news: the Ukrainian army needs a coherent fleet, we repeat tirelessly.
If a military victory seems elusive today, Kiev's allies want to arm the Ukrainian army. By reaching the standards of Western armies, Ukraine should be able to repel another Russian attack. In the long term, material transfer will be made easier. In the meantime, the urgency is to toughen up soldiers. Since the start of the war, 10,000 have been trained by the French army. On Thursday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced the establishment of a new joint training and analysis center between NATO and Ukraine in Bydgoszcz, Poland. “This will allow us to share the lessons of the war,” he explained. It is used for long-term preparation.
” data-script=”https://static.lefigaro.fr/widget-video/short-ttl/video/index.js” >