President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with Minister of the Armed Forces of France Sébastien Lecornu, who is on a visit to our country.
The Head of State highly appreciated the solidarity and support that France and personally President Emmanuel Macron provide to Ukraine in the face of Russia's full-scale armed aggression. "I want to thank President Macron for his comprehensive assistance to Ukraine, especially in this difficult time. I am also grateful to the President's wife for supporting humanitarian efforts, and to French society for such a warm and extremely responsible attitude towards Ukraine," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The Head of State noted the successful holding in Paris of the International Conference on supporting Ukraine in the winter period, as a result of which additional emergency aid to our country in the amount of 1 billion euros was announced.
"Under the leadership of President Macron, a record amount of aid to our state was collected - financial, humanitarian, as well as generators. In this difficult time of challenges to Ukraine's energy security, this was an important gesture on the part of the French Republic," he noted.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed Sébastien Lecornu about the situation at the front and Ukraine's current defense needs. The Head of State thanked for the military assistance provided by France aimed at protecting Ukrainian skies and strengthening the capabilities of the defense forces, in particular, with Crotale anti-aircraft missile systems and Caesar self-propelled artillery systems. Further practical steps to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities with the support of France were discussed.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of liberating all temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine in order to restore stability in the region and return to world order. In this context, the President talked about the Ukrainian Peace Formula and the planned holding of the Global Peace Summit. He expressed hope that France would take the lead in one or more elements of the formula.
The parties exchanged views on topical issues of Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine.
The Minister of the Armed Forces of France conveyed friendly greetings from Emmanuel Macron to the Head of State and, on behalf of the French President, assured of the continuation of effective defense support for Ukraine next year.