France to equip Zelensky with armored vehicles: Joint statement notes
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky goes to Paris and meets with French President Emmanuel Macron where the two announce in a joint statement their intention to mount pressure against Russia.
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French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Sunday, May 14, 2023. (AP)
In a joint statement, French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that France intended to train Ukrainian battalions and equip them with AMX-10RC armored fighting vehicles.
In a statement released by the Elysee Palace, on Monday, Macron said that "France is focusing its efforts on supporting Ukraine's air defense capabilities."
The two presidents, according to the statement, concurred that there is a need to mount collective pressure against Russia through more sanctions while attempting to contain restriction circumvention through certain countries.
Moreover, it was noted that France "will continue to provide political, financial, humanitarian and military support to Ukraine for as long as necessary, individually and through international cooperation with the European Union, NATO, the United Nations and other organizations."
Earlier, on Saturday, Zelensky visited Vatican City and met with Pope Francis where he not only refused any mediation efforts while demanding the pontiff support Ukraine in the face of Russia but also broke protocol several times, according to Express.
Later, Zelensky traveled to Germany where he met with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at his official residence, Bellevue Palace and met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the Federal Chancellery.
In Germany, Zelensky was also awarded the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen in an award ceremony where EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said that Ukraine "incarnates everything the European idea is living for: the courage of convictions, the fight for values and freedom, the commitment to peace and unity."
"President Zelensky and the people of Ukraine are fighting for the values and the obligation that this prize embodies. And in doing so, they are also fighting for our own freedom and our values," she added.
During the ceremony, Zelensky claimed "leaders of the world spent hours and hours talking to Putin, trying to avert this modern-day catastrophe. But Putin has chosen catastrophe. Alone."
The Ukrainian President said, "Now everyone understands what we understand. Putin is a catastrophe. This is the answer. Putin is an aggression, and he does not want anything else for himself and his people. His formula has become death."
The Ukrainian President makes these claims in Germany despite having stated in February of this year that he never intended to implement the Minsk agreements, and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel also confessed that the Accords were only meant to "give Ukraine time".
Read more: Merkel confesses NATO plans for Russia since 2007 in new interview
