The Élysée Palace announced on Saturday, following a telephone conversation between President Emmanuel Macron and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, that France would send more military hardware and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
While the President of Ukraine thanked Macron for “the supply of quality military equipment that contributes to the Ukrainian resistance,” the French President pointed to the “continuing increase in support, as well as humanitarian assistance, provided by France.”
“Extension of the mission of French experts who contribute to the collection of evidence to fight impunity and facilitate the work of the international judicial system related to crimes committed as part of Russian aggression,” he stressed in a statement.
The United States, France, the Czech Republic and other allies have provided hundreds of long-range artillery pieces to Kyiv to help repel Russia’s attack on the Donbass. Paris, for its part, sends ultra-modern Caesar self-propelled guns.
On Saturday, the Élysée Palace confirmed that French humanitarian aid to Ukraine at this stage represents “more than 615 tons of equipment sent, including medical equipment, generators for hospitals, food aid, housing and ambulances.”
Macron emphasized his “desire to work actively during his second term to restore the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, always maintaining close coordination with European partners and allies.”
He also pointed to “France’s willingness to contribute to an agreement that provides security guarantees for Ukraine.”
Macron told Zelensky of his “concern” after the Russian bombing of Kyiv on Thursday, as well as “the unbearable situation in Mariupol, despite his repeated calls to the Russian president to respect international humanitarian law.”
