Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently unveiled the “victory plan,“ which aims to persuade Russia to end its invasion of Ukraine through negotiations. While this proposal is currently under consideration by Ukraine’s Western partners, whose support is crucial for Kyiv to withstand its larger neighbour, France declares its support for the plan.
During a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha in Kyiv on Saturday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot expressed his support for Ukraine’s plan to resolve the ongoing 2.5-year conflict with Russia. During his press conference with Sybiha, Minister Barrot assured the press of France’s steadfast support for Ukraine and committed to collaborating with Ukrainian officials to garner support from other nations for the proposal. A significant aspect of the plan includes a formal invitation for Ukraine to join NATO, a move that Western allies have been hesitant to endorse until after the war concludes.
Since Russia’s invasion in 2022, France has been one of Ukraine’s most potent military, diplomatic, and economic allies in Europe. It is training and equipping a new brigade of Ukrainian soldiers for deployment on the front lines.
“With my counterpart @andrii_sybiha in Kyiv, I reiterated France’s unwavering support for Ukraine! The Ukrainian Victory Plan and France’s contribution to its implementation were at the heart of our discussions,“ the French Foreign Minister posted on X after the meeting.
The French Foreign Minister emphasised that a Russian victory “would be a consecration for the law of the strongest and would push the international order toward chaos”.
French President Emmanuel Macron has previously advocated for a policy shift among Ukraine’s Western allies that could alter the dynamics of the war. This shift would allow Kyiv to target military bases inside Russia using sophisticated long-range weapons provided by Western partners, including missiles from France. Long-range strikes are a crucial element of President Zelenskyy’s five-point plan; however, they have faced resistance from Kyiv’s allies thus far.
Additionally, Barrot announced that France will deliver the first batch of Mirage 2000 combat jets to Ukraine within the first three months of 2025. Ukrainian pilots and mechanics will also receive training to operate and maintain these jets.
“By resisting against the invader with exceptional courage, you are not only fighting for Ukraine’s territorial integrity but also holding a front line that separates Europe from Vladimir Putin‘s Russia, that separates freedom from oppression,” the French minister said in Kyiv.
“Warm welcome to my French colleague @jnbarrot on his first ministerial visit to Kyiv. I am grateful for France’s commitment to supporting Ukraine and our Euro-Atlantic path. We focused on defence cooperation, energy assistance, and steps to advance the Victory Plan and the Peace Formula,“ Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha posted on X.
