France declares support for Ukrainian President's 'victory plan'

(CLO) The French Foreign Minister has pledged support for Ukraine's plan to end the conflict with Russia, speaking to reporters during a visit to Kiev on Saturday (October 19).

Announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this week, Kiev's "victory plan" hopes to force Russia to the negotiating table to end the conflict.

The proposal is being considered by Ukraine’s Western allies. A key element would be a formal invitation to join NATO, something Ukraine’s supporters have so far said would only come after the war ends.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot (right) walks with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha (left) in Kiev on Saturday. Photo: Sergey Dolzhenko

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said at a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha: "…our talks should allow us to make progress on President Zelenskyy's victory plan and rally the largest possible number of countries around it."

Since Russia and Ukraine clashed on February 24, 2022, France has become one of Ukraine's strongest military , diplomatic and economic supporters in Europe, and is training and equipping a brand new brigade of Ukrainian soldiers to deploy to the front lines.

President Zelenskyy said on Saturday that he hoped the brigade would be in Ukraine by the end of November. “The training of the brigade is going ahead of schedule,” he said.

French President Emmanuel Macron has also previously pushed Ukraine's Western allies for a policy change that could change the course of the war - allowing Kiev to attack military bases inside Russia with long-range weapons supplied by Western partners, including missiles from France.

Minister Barrot also announced that France will deliver the first batch of Mirage 2000 fighter jets to Ukraine in the first three months of 2025, and train Ukrainian pilots and mechanics to fly and maintain them.

Bui Huy (according to AP, Guardian)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/phap-tuyen-bo-ung-ho-ke-hoach-chien-thang-cua-tong-thong-ukraine-post317571.html