France Pledges €2 Billion in Military Aid to Ukraine
France has pledged €2 billion in military aid to Ukraine, as leaders from around the world gathered in Paris to discuss ways to strengthen Kyiv's position in the ongoing conflict with Russia. The summit, attended by approximately 30 leaders including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, aimed to explore potential roles for European nations in facilitating a peace agreement.
This gathering marked the third summit of the "coalition of the willing," a group formed by France and Britain in response to concerns that the United States may not be providing unwavering support to Ukraine. Leaders from countries such as Britain, Poland, and Italy, along with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay, participated in the discussions.
The summit took place following Zelenskyy's agreement to engage in ceasefire talks earlier in March, a move aimed at securing the resumption of US aid and intelligence sharing. While US President Donald Trump has expressed his desire to broker a swift end to the war, bilateral talks between the US and the warring parties have yet to yield significant progress.
Despite a ceasefire agreement reached on March 18, both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of violating the terms, particularly regarding attacks on energy infrastructure.
French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the importance of continued support for Ukraine, stating that "it is necessary to continue the resistance." He committed an additional €2 billion in French military aid, including missiles, warplanes, and air defense equipment. Zelenskyy expressed hope that other partners would announce similar aid packages during the summit.
The summit aimed to establish a role for Europe in any future peace negotiations. While the United States was not directly involved, French officials assured that the outcome of the discussions would be shared with the US administration. President Macron also held discussions with President Trump prior to the meeting.
5 Comments
Stan Marsh
€2 Billion for weapons? What about the refugees, the starving children, the bombed-out hospitals? This is just fueling the fire!
Pupsik
We shouldn't be taking sides in this conflict, both sides have made mistakes. We should remain neutral and focus on humanitarian aid.
Marishka
Ukraine needs all the help it can get to fight for its freedom and democracy. This is the least we can do.
Pupsik
Is this the best use of taxpayer money? Shouldn't we be focusing on rebuilding our own economies and infrastructure instead?
Marishka
This is just going to prolong the conflict, nobody wins in a war, diplomacy is the only solution!