Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on French mayors on Tuesday to provide aid to his country to prevent Russia from using the cold this winter “as a weapon of mass destruction”, in a message broadcast during the AMF congress in Paris.
« The Kremlin wants to turn the winter cold into a weapon of mass destruction said the president in a subtitled video broadcast during a tribute to Ukraine organized by the Association of French Mayors (AMF) on the occasion of its congress, which was attended by a delegation of Ukrainian elected officials.
« To survive this winter and not allow Russia to turn the cold into a tool of terror and submission, we need a lot of things. “, explained Mr. Zelensky, mentioning in particular “ generators of different capacities “, of ” demining aid (and) equipment for firefighters, rescuers and doctors ». « I call on you to be very concrete in helping and supporting our cities and communities against terrorism. “, he added.
AMF President David Lisnard, who had traveled to Ukraine in the weeks following the start of the Russian offensive, invited several Ukrainian elected officials to the congress of his association to express to them ” our admiration, solidarity and support ».
« The mayors of France were at the rendezvous on the first kilometer of humanitarian aid to Ukraine and on the last kilometer, that of human reception of the refugees, he stressed.
Lviv Mayor Andrei Sadovy, who is part of the Ukrainian delegation present at the congress, had previously paid tribute to Mr. Lisnard for “ having been one of the first foreign politicians to physically visit Ukraine » and thus have « sealed an immortal friendship between French and Ukrainian citizens ».