Emmanuel Macron met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Elysee Palace in Paris to discuss the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. The meeting comes after a tentative ceasefire was agreed upon, facilitated by the United States, which involves the Black Sea and energy infrastructure.
During their talks, Macron expressed concerns about Russia’s intentions. He noted that Russia seems to be reinterpreting the terms of the ceasefire agreement. "While saying it wants peace, Russia continues to strike intensely the Ukrainian territory, including civilian targets. These strikes – we condemn them," Macron stated.
Just hours after the ceasefire was announced, drone strikes were reported in Ukraine, particularly in Mykolaiv, leading to emergency power outages. This raised questions about the sincerity of Russia’s commitment to the ceasefire.
Macron also announced an additional $2 billion in military support for Ukraine, emphasizing that Russia cannot dictate the terms of peace in the region. He mentioned that it is still too early to consider lifting sanctions on Russia.
The meeting highlighted the ongoing tensions, as Russia accused Ukraine of attacking energy infrastructure in Crimea and other regions, claims that Ukraine has denied. Meanwhile, Russia launched one of its largest drone attacks on Zelenskyy’s hometown, Kryvyi Rih.
Zelenskyy expressed optimism about the situation, stating he believes the US can help ensure a ceasefire is accepted by Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also mentioned that he expects a coalition of supportive nations will discuss peacekeeping solutions for Ukraine at an upcoming summit.
As the situation evolves, the international community is closely watching how the ceasefire will play out and what steps will be taken to secure lasting peace in the region.