Macron, Zelensky and the Friday meeting: the Ukrainian crisis seeks to reclaim the spotlight
An anticipated meeting between Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky aims to bring Ukraine back into the spotlight as the war involving Iran continues to dominate global attention.
By hosting his Ukrainian counterpart in Paris on Friday, the French president intends to demonstrate that the war in the Middle East will not “divert” attention from the Ukrainian issue and that Russia is “mistaken” if it believes it can benefit from the current geopolitical situation.
Zelensky’s spokesperson, Serhii Nykyforov, told journalists in Kyiv, including correspondents from Agence France-Presse, that the Ukrainian president had arrived in Paris.
The visit comes at a time when the U.S.–Israeli war against Iran, which began on February 28, has captured global attention, while the war between Russia and Ukraine has entered its fifth year.
The Élysée Palace explained to journalists that the visit aims to “prevent” the U.S.–Israeli war against Iran from “overshadowing” the Ukrainian issue, as the Middle Eastern crisis dominates global affairs and commands the attention of world leaders.
This is Zelensky’s twelfth visit to France since the beginning of the war in Ukraine in February 2022. It follows a stop in Romania the previous day.
A “key message”
An adviser to the French president explained that the “key message” of the visit is that “no crisis and no development will divert our attention from Ukraine,” emphasizing that Paris’s support for Kyiv “will not weaken,” as France remains “a reliable partner.”
He stressed that “those in the Kremlin in particular who believe that the war in Iran represents an opportunity for them (…) are mistaken,” adding, “This is what we must demonstrate collectively.”
On Thursday, the Russian presidency said that the visit to Paris reflects Ukraine’s desire to “obstruct” a peaceful settlement of the conflict, at a time when the United States has proposed a new round of negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow under American mediation next week.
In response, the French presidency stated that “the only obstacle to peace today is Russia.”
Macron and Zelensky are scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting at the Élysée around noon, followed by a joint press conference and a working lunch. Later in the afternoon, Zelensky is also expected to participate in a discussion with students at the Paris Institute of Political Studies, Sciences Po.
The French presidency indicated that Macron and his guest will also discuss the “unparalleled expertise” Ukraine has developed in designing tools to counter Iranian-designed drones used by Russian forces. These technologies are gaining “renewed importance” amid Iranian retaliatory strikes against numerous targets in the Middle East.
Blocked assistance
Regarding aid to Ukraine, the main topic of discussion is expected to be the 90-billion-euro loan promised to Kyiv by European Union leaders last December.
However, the first disbursements of this loan are currently stalled, as Budapest is demanding that Ukraine quickly reopen the Druzhba pipeline, which transports Russian oil to Hungary and which Ukrainian authorities say was damaged by a Russian strike.
In an interview with Politico, Zelensky called on Europe to prepare an “alternative plan” if Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who is close to Russia, continues to block the loan.
The issue is expected to be raised again at the summit of the twenty-seven EU member states scheduled for next week in Brussels.
An adviser to Emmanuel Macron said Thursday, “We always prefer Plan A to Plans B or C.” He added that the agreement reached in December is “set in stone” and must be “implemented” to allow the “first disbursements in the coming weeks.”
The French president will also brief his Ukrainian counterpart on the results of the G7 meeting held via videoconference, which on Wednesday produced a “consensus,” including U.S. President Donald Trump, to maintain sanctions on Russian oil despite the disruptions caused by the war in the Middle East.
In an effort to “maintain pressure” on Moscow, Emmanuel Macron is also expected to emphasize France’s “essential role” in tracking vessels belonging to the so-called “shadow fleet” used by Russia to circumvent Western sanctions.
