Main points
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived at the Elysee Palace for talks with Emmanuel Macron.
- The main topics of the meeting are the unblocking of the EU loan, support for Ukraine, and sanctions against Russia.
Zelensky has already arrived at the Elysee Palace / Collage of Channel 24
On Friday, March 13, Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived at the Elysee Palace. There, the president will hold talks with French leader Emmanuel Macron.
This was reported by a correspondent of the Ukrinform agency.
What is known about Zelensky's visit to Paris?
At around 1:30 p.m. on March 13, the Ukrainian leader arrived at the Elysee Palace in Paris.
The French administration noted that the main purpose of the visit is to demonstrate France's unwavering support for Ukraine. It also noted that no international crises will distract Paris from Kyiv, and the partnership between the countries will remain stable.
The Elysee Palace also confirmed that the war in Iran does not create any windows of opportunity for those who aim to take advantage of the current geopolitical context. The French authorities are convinced that such calculations are erroneous.
At the same time, it is known that the leaders plan to discuss three blocks of issues. These include continued support for Ukraine, increased pressure on Russia, and promotion of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine with reliable security guarantees.
The first block will discuss, in particular, the unblocking of the EU loan of 90 billion euros, energy support for Ukraine, and the continuation of Franco-Ukrainian defense cooperation with a special emphasis on drones,
– explained at the Elysee Palace.
Meanwhile, a source at the Elysee Palace reported that the unblocking of the EU loan was one of the main topics of Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to France. Recall that the decision to approve this loan has reached an impasse due to blocking by Hungary and Slovakia.
In addition, the parties will discuss the development of the 20th package of sanctions against Russia, the fight against its shadow fleet, and will also discuss efforts within the Coalition of the Willing to achieve a just peace, backed by security guarantees for Ukraine.
A joint press conference and working lunch are planned after the meeting.
By the way , this visit by Volodymyr Zelensky to France is the twelfth since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.
Zelenskyy arrived at the Elysee Palace: watch the video
Zelensky recently visited Romania: what is known?
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On March 12, the President of Ukraine arrived in Bucharest on a working visit. It is known that the leader met with Romanian President Nicusor Dan and Prime Minister Ilie Bolozhan.
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In addition to a number of political meetings, Zelensky visited the F-16 fighter pilot training center operating in Romania.
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The leaders of Ukraine and Romania signed agreements on cooperation in the energy sector and joint production of weapons, including drones. In addition, a declaration was signed establishing a strategic partnership between Ukraine and Romania.