PRES. MACRON RECEIVES PRES. ZELENSKY & CHANCELOR SHOLZ IN PARIS

USPA NEWS - French President Emmanuel Macron, welcomed both the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, at the Elysee Palace, today Wednesday, February 8, 2023, at 8:30 p.m., for a dinner. The two leaders arrived at Elysee Palace, welcomed by the Republican guards, yet without any red carpet to honor President Zelensky, like it was the case in the UK, previously the same day…

This short visit comes just after President Zelenskyy visited the British this very morning, being received by HH King Charles at Buckingam Palace, and British PM Rishi Sunak, at Downing Street and very warmly at the House of Commons, at London, where He delivered an address to the MP’s. The UK’s Prime Minister Sunak said he had met Ukrainian troops training in the UK last week, and was inspired by their courage and the stories of their loved ones back home. As part of that effort, Ukrainian soldiers had already begun training on Challenger 2 tanks in the UK this week, the Prime Minister added. He added that they had paid tribute to President Zelenskyy’s strong leadership. Tomorrow, the Ukrainian President will travel to Brussels to attend a European summit...

This short visit comes just after President Zelenskyy visited the British this very morning, being received by HH King Charles at Buckingam Palace, and British PM Rishi Sunak, at Downing Street and very warmly at the House of Commons, at London, where He delivered an address to the MP’s. The UK’s Prime Minister Sunak said he had met Ukrainian troops training in the UK last week, and was inspired by their courage and the stories of their loved ones back home. As part of that effort, Ukrainian soldiers had already begun training on Challenger 2 tanks in the UK this week, the Prime Minister added. He added that they had paid tribute to President Zelenskyy’s strong leadership. Tomorrow, the Ukrainian President will travel to Brussels to attend a European summit in response to the invitation of Charles Michel, the President of the European Council. “It is a strong signal that the President is personally participating in this first meeting of the year of EU Heads of State and Government, a signal of European solidarity” also welcomed Olaf Scholz.

From the beginning of the joint declaration, the host French President Macron, congratulated his Ukrainian counterpart for "Your courage, your lucidity and your commitment are impressive." Emmanuel Macron, also said he wanted to "build peace" with the latter, in particular through an "international conference" involving "the maximum number of partners". “Justice is a common cause because there is no peace without justice. We will be there for the war crimes of Russian soldiers to be punished,” he added.

“Justice is a common cause because there is no peace without justice. We will be there to ensure that the war crimes of Russian soldiers are punished” President Macron stated and added he " wished to assure his Ukrainian counterpart of his "determination" to "accompany" Ukraine "towards victory". He also said he wanted to "build peace" with the latter, in particular through an "international conference" involving "the maximum number of partners". “Justice is a common cause because there is no peace without justice. We will be there for the war crimes of Russian soldiers to be punished,” President Macron, added.
The President of Ukraine also insisted on "building peace", "We need heavy armaments as soon as possible to return to peace in Europe" he declared. For his part, Olaf Scholz hailed the "courage", "bravery" and "tenacity" of the Ukrainians.

Presidents Macron, Zelensky and Chancellor Sholz made a joint statement of about five (5) minutes each, without giving a press conference, in front of the fifty journalists present in the village hall of the Elysee. President Zelenskyy reiterated his need to receive heavy armaments, necessary for the peace process. “The sooner Ukraine gets long-range heavy weaponry, the sooner our pilots get planes, the sooner this Russian aggression will end and we could return to peace in Europe,” the head of state said. Ukrainian. While the French head of state Macron reaffirmed his determination to "accompany" Kyiv "towards victory" and evoked a future "conference on peace". German Chancellor Sholz meanwhile assured President Zelensky that "the Allies would support his country, especially militarily "for as long as necessary" to repel the Russian invasion, adding that "The Ukrainians deserve our greatest gratitude and we owe them the respect" .
At the end of the joint declaration, which will have lasted 15 minutes, the three heads of state then retired to go to dinner together at the Elysee Palace.