A strained relationship with Kyiv
Macron wants to expand arms deliveries
May 17, 2022 at 9:29 pm
The relationship between Presidents Macron and Zelensky is tense. Recently, the French actually refused Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. He also maintained regular contact with the head of the Kremlin for a long time. Now he wants to deliver Kyiv’s weapons faster and larger.
French President Emmanuel Macron has promised his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, significantly more military aid. According to the Elysee Palace, he said in a joint telephone conversation that arms shipments from Paris “will intensify in the coming days and weeks.” At the end of April, Macron promised to provide Ukraine with Milan anti-tank weapons and Caesar cannons.
Macron also promised Zelensky to provide additional humanitarian aid to Ukraine. He also spoke to the Ukrainian president about ways to enable grain exports from Ukraine despite the Russian naval blockade on the country. Macron also assured Zelensky that Ukraine’s application to join the European Union would be considered at the EU summit in June.
At the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the French president was reluctant to supply arms and held regular talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to explore the possibility of a diplomatic solution.
There have been frequent disagreements between Macron and the Ukrainian government in recent weeks. Among other things, Selinsky accused the French president of being afraid of Putin. Macron infuriated Kyiv last week when he said it could be “decades” before Ukraine’s possible EU membership – and instead brought the “European political community” into play.