The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has given a series of interviews to French media in which he declared that his troops have successfully halted the Russian advance. Zelensky also responded to French President Emmanuel Macron’s comments indicating the possibility of sending French troops to Ukraine by stating, “Your children will not die in Ukraine.” He emphasized that foreign troops are not currently needed but requested technical personnel be sent to assist with military equipment production.
Macron’s remarks regarding “strategic ambiguity” drew sharp criticism from Kyiv’s European allies. Zelensky suggested that Macron’s stance is tied to Putin’s actions, and as long as Ukraine holds out, the French army can remain on French soil. However, he noted that if Putin attacks another NATO country, NATO members will have to decide on troop deployment.
In recent interviews with French media outlets, Zelensky confirmed that the Russian advance has been stopped and the situation on the front has improved significantly in recent months. The Ukrainian president emphasized that his country will not surrender to Russia and has initiated the construction of more than 1,000 kilometers of fortification lines along the front.
Zelensky also expressed outrage at Pope Francis’ remarks urging negotiation to prevent further escalation of the conflict. He made it clear that Ukraine will never raise the white flag against Russia and lodged a protest with the Vatican over the Pope’s statements.
The future of the conflict may hinge on the outcome of the upcoming US elections, with former President Donald Trump indicating that he would not provide any financial support to Ukraine in the event of his return to the White House. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban revealed Trump’s stance during a meeting in Florida, highlighting the potential implications for the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.