On Saturday, 10 February, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he had a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron. As a reminder, Macron is expected to visit Ukraine in the near future.
The parties "discussed the situation on the battlefield and the defence needs of Ukraine, in particular drones, artillery systems and shells, electronic warfare and air defence systems – from portable to long-range".
In addition, "we talked about the preparation of a bilateral document on security guarantees within the framework of the G7 Vilnius Declaration," Zelenskyy said, stressing that "the active preparation of bilateral security agreements by leading European countries demonstrates Europe's leadership, motivates Ukrainian society and soldiers, and sends powerful signals to Russia about Europe's support for Ukraine."
During today's conversation, Zelenskyy also once again thanked France and the United States for creating the Artillery Coalition, "within which Paris will manufacture and transfer dozens of Caesar artillery systems and their shells to Ukraine."
"The President of the Republic reaffirmed France's determination to provide all the support necessary in the long term and together with all its partners to defeat Russia's aggressive war," the Elysee Palace said.
As a reminder, the launch of the Artillery for Ukraine coalition led by France and the United States was announced in Paris on 18 January.
Recently, President Macron promised to personally visit Ukraine "as early as February" and bring, among other things, a bilateral agreement on security guarantees ready for signing.
In addition, the Ukrainian president "expressed his sincere condolences to the families and friends of the French humanitarian workers who were killed in the Russian strike on Kherson region, and wished a speedy recovery to the wounded".
Two French people were killed and three injured on 1 February as a result of a Russian strike on the town of Beryslav in Kherson region. All of them were employees of a humanitarian organisation. These people "paid with their lives for their commitment to Ukrainians," French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said.