From Le Figaro with AFP
Published 2 hours ago, updated 24 minutes ago
Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (right) and Polish President Andrzej Duda in the Elysée Palace, June 12, 2023. SARAH MEYSSONNIER / AFP
Emmanuel Macron is bringing together the German Chancellor, the Polish President and around fifteen heads of state and government in Paris this Monday to reiterate their support for Ukraine.
Around twenty heads of state and government, mostly European, will meet on Monday in Paris at the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron to reaffirm their support for Ukraine, which is in a critical situation in which Moscow finds itself and whose fate is of depends on western aid.
Ukraine's victory or defeat “depends on you,” President Volodymyr Zelensky told allies on Sunday who will speak at the meeting via videoconference at the presidential Élysée Palace.
The vast majority of European leaders, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Polish President Andrzej Duda, as well as the prime ministers of around 15 EU countries will be present at this meeting. “Ukraine is fighting for itself, for its ideals, for our Europe,” the French head of state assured X on Friday, on the eve of the two-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Our commitment to him will not waver.”
At a time when American support, crucial for Kiev, is still blocked in Congress and the possibility of Donald Trump's return to the White House is causing the EU to break out in cold sweats, Emmanuel Macron is calling for Europe to stage a “collective recovery” in the face of Russia. The resurgence of cyber and information attacks by an “increasingly aggressive” Russia will also be discussed during the meeting, according to the Élysée, which criticizes Russian “intimidation” maneuvers. The meeting will be attended by American and Canadian representatives as well as British diplomatic chief David Cameron.
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“We are not tired”
The aim is to “remobilize and examine all means of effectively supporting Ukraine,” said the Élysée, at a time when Kiev is in a very difficult situation due to a lack of weapons and ammunition. It is difficult against Russia. “It's about countering the impression that things are falling apart and reaffirming that we are not tired and determined to fail.” Russian aggression. “We want to send a clear message to Putin that he will not have his way in Ukraine,” emphasizes the French presidency. “We are neither resigned nor defeatist,” emphasizes the Élysée, “there will be no victory for Russia in Ukraine.”
If no new aid announcements are planned, participants will consider ways to “do it better and more decisively,” while Kiev reiterated on Sunday that half of Western weapons promises would be delivered late. “Everyone is doing their best when it comes to supplying weapons. “We must all be able to do better together, each according to our abilities,” said the French presidency, while some Europeans, notably Paris and Berlin, more or less openly accuse each other of not doing so.
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“Indecision causes more death and destruction.”
Several countries, including France, Germany and Italy, have signed bilateral security agreements with Kyiv in recent weeks, but the EU, which has provided 28 billion euros in military aid since the start of the war, is struggling to honor its commitments, particularly on terms of mussel deliveries.
“Europeans have the means to do significant things,” noted former American diplomat Debra Cagan during an Atlantic Council conference on Friday. But “if Ukraine had already had F16 fighter jets and Germany's Taurus (missiles), we would be witnessing a completely different conflict today,” he said. “Indecision leads to more death and destruction,” she warned.
American aid totaling $60 billion has also been blocked in Congress for months. Ukraine is convinced that the US will not “give up” in the face of Russia and will vote in the end, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Chmygal said on Sunday.
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