After visits to Italy and Germany, the Ukrainian president arrived this Sunday at 8:55 p.m. local time (7:55 p.m. in Lisbon) at Villacoublay Air Force Base, southwest of Paris.
Leaving the aircraft, a Falcon of France, Zelensky was received by the French Prime Minister, Élisabeth Borne, with whom he exchanged a few words as they walked down the runway.
“Ukraine’s defensive and offensive capabilities are increasing with each visit. Ties with Europe are strengthening and pressure on Russia is increasing,” Zelensky wrote on the Twitter social network upon arrival, specifying that he would like to thank his “friend Emmanuel Macron” would meet.
He then left in a vehicle for the Élysée Palace, where Macron “will reaffirm the unwavering support of France and Europe to restore Ukraine’s legitimate rights and defend its fundamental interests,” the French presidency said in a statement.
Zelensky’s Paris stage had not been announced before.
During a short European tour, the Ukrainian head of state was awarded the Charlemagne Prize in Germany today for his contribution to the unity of the European continent and will continue talks in Paris with a view to preparing a counter-offensive against Russia, which would land on February 24, 2022 and has been waging an offensive war there ever since.
The Russian military offensive in Ukraine has so far led to the flight of more than 14.7 million people – 6.5 million internally displaced and more than 8.2 million to European countries – according to the latest data from the UN, which classifying the refugee crisis as the worst in Europe since World War II (1939-1945).
At least 18 million Ukrainians need humanitarian aid and 9.3 million need food aid and shelter.
The Russian invasion – justified by the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, with the need to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russian security – was condemned by the international community at large, which responded by sending weapons to Ukraine and Russia political and economic sanctions.
The UN presented as confirmed since the start of the war, which today entered its 445th day, 8,791 civilian deaths and 14,815 wounded, underlining that these numbers are well below the real ones.
Source: DN
