Egypt Daily News – On Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky at the Élysée Palace, on the eve of a scheduled summit on Thursday for the so-called “Alliance of the Willing,” a group of countries ready to provide security guarantees to Ukraine. Macron said that France had allocated an additional military aid package to Kyiv worth two billion euros, accusing Moscow of showing a “desire for war.”
France has allocated additional military assistance to Ukraine worth two billion euros, as announced by President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday during his reception of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Élysée Palace.
Macron called on Russia to agree to a 30-day ceasefire without “preconditions,” accusing Moscow of showing a “desire for war” and adding “new conditions” to the agreement reached under U.S. mediation, aimed at calming tensions in the Black Sea and suspending strikes on energy facilities.
Macron also stated that it was still “too early” to discuss lifting the sanctions imposed on Moscow due to its invasion of Ukraine, pointing out that this matter depends on “Russia’s choice to comply with international law.”
While addressing European countries’ potential deployment of forces in Ukraine should a peace agreement be reached, in the presence of his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, Macron emphasized his “peaceful approach,” stressing that these forces would not be sent “to the frontlines to fight.”
For his part, Zelensky expressed hope that the United States would have enough influence to pressure Russia into agreeing to an unconditional ceasefire, after Moscow set conditions for halting attacks in the Black Sea with U.S. mediation.
In a joint press conference with Macron, Zelensky emphasized the need to maintain and strengthen sanctions on Russia.
Russia and Ukraine have exchanged accusations of trying to undermine any agreement that could lead to a ceasefire in the Black Sea and a suspension of strikes on energy facilities, with both sides condemning attacks carried out by each other overnight on Wednesday.
On Thursday, France will host leaders and delegations from about 30 countries, in the framework of what has become known as the “Alliance of the Willing,” in an attempt to shape some ideas.
For weeks, London and Paris have been working on a plan to send thousands of soldiers to Ukraine to help protect a future ceasefire. However, diplomats say there is increasing acceptance of the idea that sending such a force is not the most likely outcome.
