French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that the long-anticipated Ukrainian offensive against occupying Russian forces had begun and vowed to continue.
military assistance to the Kyiv government.
“We did everything to help her (Ukraine),” Macron said at a press conference after meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the trilateral summit of the so-called Weimar Triangle.
“We have stepped up the supply of ammunition, weapons and armed vehicles … and will continue (to provide assistance) in the coming days and weeks,” said Macron, who announced in recent days that he had spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who confirmed the start of the counterattack.
Asked if Germany agrees that Ukraine should receive security guarantees at the NATO summit in July, the German chancellor replied: “Obviously, we need it and we need it very specifically.”
Ukraine today announced new achievements in the first phase of the counteroffensive, saying its forces have recaptured seven villages from Russian forces along a front that stretches some 100 kilometers in southeastern Ukraine.
The trilateral meeting in Paris was meant to send a signal of unity between Eastern and Western Europe after Warsaw played a major logistical and diplomatic role in helping Ukraine, often criticizing the leaders of Germany and France for their inaction.
Macron said the meeting is proof that there is no division between “old” and “new” Europe, a distinction previously made by the United States when Eastern European countries refused to support France and Germany in the Iraq war 20 years ago.
However, during a short question and answer session, disagreements arose with journalists.
Both Macron and Schulch said they supported the migration deal agreed by EU ministers last week, under which EU countries unwilling to accept refugees would be asked to contribute financially to host countries.
But the Polish president expressed his skepticism.
“We received those who needed help in Poland … We helped and, frankly, did not receive any help, especially from EU institutions,” he added.
