European allies essential to Ukraine peace talks, French FM Barrot says
France has made a statement on peace talks (Photo: REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes)
Peace negotiations for Ukraine cannot proceed without European partners, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Paris serves as confirmation, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said, Le Figaro reported on Dec. 1.
"We have made every effort to ensure that everything is done in the interests of peace in Ukraine and security in Europe," the diplomat said.
Barrot emphasized that the U.S.-backed peace plan, originally comprising 28 points, has undergone "significant changes." He said all issues related to European countries have been excluded, but for the first time, the United States has clearly stated its readiness to collaborate with Ukraine on preparing security guarantees — military mechanisms to prevent future aggression after a peace deal.
The French official noted that while Russia seeks to limit Ukraine's military capabilities, Europeans intend to support a "robust post-war" Ukrainian army.
"This will require us to help rebuild it," the minister said.
Barrot described the coalition of 35 nations — formed to provide a joint response to security issues outside NATO — as "unprecedented in European history" since the end of World War II.
Zelenskyy arrived in France on Dec. 1 with first lady Olena Zelenska, Ukraine’s public broadcaster Suspilne reported.
The leaders are expected to hold a one-on-one meeting, after which Zelenskyy will visit production facilities at French aerospace company Dassault Aviation.
On Dec. 1, Axios reported that National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov will meet Zelenskyy in Paris to brief him on talks with the U.S. delegation in Florida on Nov. 30.
Zelenskyy said ahead of the trip that the U.S. negotiations on the peace plan were constructive and aimed at strengthening Ukraine's sovereignty and protecting national interests.
The military war may be swinging in our favor, but the information war continues.
Just as an army needs soldiers, so does a free society need its journalists to ensure that people have access to honest, trustworthy voices to understand the world around them.
For the past five years, The New Voice of Ukraine has been working tirelessly to push back against Russian narratives and defend democracy. But we cannot do it alone.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon for just $5 a month – your donation does directly to supporting journalists and ensuring that this front of the infowar says solid and defended.
Thank you.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
