Nicolas Tonev (special envoy to Ukraine)
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11:40 a.m., February 10, 2023
After Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Brussels on Thursday, the French president stressed that he “does not rule out” sending fighter planes to Ukraine, but not “in the coming weeks”. Military support, but also financial, which convinces the Ukrainian population, despite the skepticism towards France felt at the start of the war.
Will Ukraine get the new heavy weapons it demands? Emmanuel Macron spoke this Thursday evening in Brussels on the subject, after a marathon day where Volodymyr Zelensky was given a standing ovation by the 27. Applause and promises, but no firm commitment, in particular on fighter planes.
“In no case can fighter planes be delivered in the coming weeks because there are incompressible delivery and training deadlines for planes that are not known to Ukrainian pilots. I absolutely do not rule it out , but that does not correspond to the needs today”, affirmed the French president.
France gave 7.4 billion euros to Ukraine
Emmanuel Macron continues despite everything to support Ukraine. Since the start of the conflict, of the 67 billion euros sent to kyiv by the European Union, France has given 7.4 billion, mainly in military aid. This is what emerges from a study by the Kiel Institutes which quantifies things. The 30 Caesar guns cost 5 million euros each, for example. Did this important French contribution to the Ukrainian war effort help to restore the image of Emmanuel Macron and of France, which until then had been considered a little stingy by the Ukrainians?
Very clearly, Macron’s skepticism is fading away and has nothing to do with the sentiments of last year or the president’s remarks about the need to preserve Russia pissed off Ukrainians. This Friday morning, in the cool streets of kyiv, the French presidency has once again become a friend.
“If relations between our presidents are good and they remain so, that’s fine”
“If the problems are solved now, that’s fine. Because help was needed before and it is still needed now. Frankly, if relations between our presidents are good and they remain so, it’s is very good”, explains a Ukrainian. “I had no doubts because we need peace to avoid the conflagration. So we are very happy. Good health to Macron”, adds a resident of kyiv.
Words impossible to hear before. But there is of course still waiting for decisions on the delivery of planes, considered here as essential to hold back and repel the Russian army.