©(Photo by GONZALO FUENTES / POOL / AFP)
French President Emmanuel Macron urged swift action on Monday, in support of Ukraine, as he inaugurated a conference focused on bolstering Western backing for Kyiv.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday called for rapid action in favor of Ukraine as he opened a conference aimed at strengthening Western support for Kyiv among European leaders, with the war there stretching into its third year.
The meeting in Paris was a chance for participants to "reaffirm their unity as well as their determination to defeat the war of aggression waged by Russia in Ukraine," the French presidency said ahead of the gathering.
Ukraine's allies need to "jumpstart" their support, Macron told representatives of two dozen countries gathered at the Élysée Palace as he opened proceedings.
The conference signals Macron's eagerness to present himself as a European champion of Ukraine's cause, amid growing fears that American support could wane in the coming years.
For Macron, the conference is also a chance to show European autonomy in security matters, which he called for even before the invasion.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that leaders in Europe had realized "how dangerous" the war is for "the whole of Europe."
"I think they have realized that Putin will continue this war," he said.
Western officials acknowledge that Russia risks gaining the upper hand in the conflict in 2024 as Ukraine runs out of weapons and ammunition.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said on Sunday that half of Western military aid pledged to Kyiv is delivered late, lamenting that "commitment does not constitute delivery."
Revealing the magnitude of Ukraine's human losses, Zelensky said 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed in the war with Russia.
A French presidential official, who asked not to be named, said the meeting needed to contradict any "impression that things are falling apart" after Ukraine's setbacks on the battlefield.
There are growing doubts about the viability of long-term US backing for Ukraine as a new aid package struggles to find legislative approval and Donald Trump eyes a return to the presidency in elections later this year.
Zelensky said Sunday that his country's victory "depends" on Western support.
US authorities "know that we need this decision within a month," Zelensky said, referring to the package of military aid.
Khalil Wakim, with AFP
French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday called for rapid action in favor of Ukraine as he opened a conference aimed at strengthening Western support for Kyiv among European leaders, with the war there stretching into its third year.
The meeting in Paris was a chance for participants to "reaffirm their unity as well as their determination to defeat the war of aggression waged by Russia in Ukraine," the French presidency said ahead of the gathering.
Ukraine's allies need to "jumpstart" their support, Macron told representatives of two dozen countries gathered at the Élysée Palace as he opened proceedings.
The conference signals Macron's eagerness to present himself as a European champion of Ukraine's cause, amid growing fears that American support could wane in the coming years.
For Macron, the conference is also a chance to show European autonomy in security matters, which he called for even before the invasion.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that leaders in Europe had realized "how dangerous" the war is for "the whole of Europe."
"I think they have realized that Putin will continue this war," he said.
Western officials acknowledge that Russia risks gaining the upper hand in the conflict in 2024 as Ukraine runs out of weapons and ammunition.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said on Sunday that half of Western military aid pledged to Kyiv is delivered late, lamenting that "commitment does not constitute delivery."
Revealing the magnitude of Ukraine's human losses, Zelensky said 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed in the war with Russia.
A French presidential official, who asked not to be named, said the meeting needed to contradict any "impression that things are falling apart" after Ukraine's setbacks on the battlefield.
There are growing doubts about the viability of long-term US backing for Ukraine as a new aid package struggles to find legislative approval and Donald Trump eyes a return to the presidency in elections later this year.
Zelensky said Sunday that his country's victory "depends" on Western support.
US authorities "know that we need this decision within a month," Zelensky said, referring to the package of military aid.
Khalil Wakim, with AFP
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