France will provide Ukraine with financial assistance in the amount of €300 million and military equipment, French President Emmanuel Macron has announced. In addition, Paris will impose its own sanctions against Moscow against the backdrop of the Russian military operation in Ukraine. Mr. Macron also said that he spoke with Vladimir Putin yesterday at the request of Vladimir Zelensky.
Emmanuel Macron said that France will speed up the deployment of its military in Romania. He also noted the importance of maintaining channels for contacts with Russia. The French president said his conversation with Vladimir Putin yesterday was “frank and direct” but brief. He clarified that he called Mr. Putin at the request of the President of Ukraine, because he could not get through to his Russian colleague. However, according to him, the French leader could not convince the President of the Russian Federation to hold talks with his Ukrainian counterpart.
Emmanuel Macron added that he also conveyed a message to Vladimir Putin from Mr. Zelensky. “So far this has not given any effect,” he said (quoted by RIA Novosti). He did not say anything about the content of this message.
The President of Russia announced the introduction of troops into Ukraine yesterday, February 24. He said that Moscow’s plans did not include the occupation of Ukrainian territories. During the day, 137 Ukrainian soldiers were killed, more than 300 were injured. Great Britain, Canada and the United States announced tougher anti-Russian sanctions.
On the development of the situation – in the online broadcast “Kommersant”.