Volodymyr Zelensky met Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee presidential palace (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)
France has said it will provide extra tanks, armoured vehicles and soldier training to Ukraine after a surprise meeting between presidents Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky.
The two men met for around three hours at the French presidential Elysee Palace in Paris yesterday, after the Ukrainian leader travelled over from a stop in Germany.
Top of the agenda was desperately needed military aid, as Ukraine’s troops prepare for a daunting counteroffensive to take back land captured by the Russian invaders.
Mr Macron was vague on details when announcing the new assistance.
He said dozens of light tanks and armoured vehicles would be supplied ‘in the weeks ahead’, but did not give specific numbers.
The French president was similarly reticent to be more precise when he promised more air defence systems would be provided.
Describing his country’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty as ‘unwavering’, Mr Macron said 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers would be trained in France this year.
The French would additionally train nearly 4,000 others in Poland as part of a wider European effort.
Volodymyr Zelensky shakes hands with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz after receiving the prestigious Charlemagne Prize (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)
Mr Macron’s office said political, economic, humanitarian and military aid will continue ‘for as long as necessary’.
In a tweet after arriving in France, Mr Zelensky said: ‘With each visit, Ukraine’s defence and offensive capabilities are expanding. The ties with Europe are getting stronger, and the pressure on Russia is growing.’
He said he and the French president would ‘talk through the most important points of bilateral relations’.
German chancellor Olaf Scholz similarly reassured Mr Zelensky that he could rely on support from Berlin ‘for as long as it is necessary’ on his visit earlier last week.
The previous day, Germany had announced its largest package of military assistance yet for Ukraine’s soldiers, reflecting a cautious turnaround in the country’s attitude towards supplying weapons for the war effort.
Mr Zelensky had said he will meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak later today for ‘substantive negotiations’ as his journey around Europe continues.
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President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise trip to Paris after travelling to Germany.