French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a statement on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, highlighting the destructive consequences of the aggression for the Russian state, reaffirming support for Ukraine, and emphasizing the development of a European security architecture.
“Four years ago, Europe awoke to the sound of Russian bombs falling on Ukraine… For four years now, Ukraine has endured and resisted. One day, Russians will realize the scale of the crime committed in their name, the absurdity of the justifications given, and the long-term devastating consequences for their country,” Macron said in a statement published on X on Tuesday morning in Ukrainian, French, and English.
The French president called Ukraine “the first line of defense of our continent” and declared firm support from France and all of Europe.
“Europe has already mobilized EUR 170 billion. At the European Council in December, we agreed on a EUR 90 billion loan to ensure predictable financing for Ukraine over the next two years. Nothing justifies revisiting this decision. Now we must implement it. The delivery of equipment and ammunition, training, strengthening air defense and counter-drone capabilities, as well as maintenance of already supplied equipment will continue. So that Ukraine stands firm and Russia understands: time is not on its side. We will also continue to strike at Russia’s war economy: we will maintain sanctions and continue actions against the shadow fleet,” he wrote.
Macron addressed “those who believe they can count on our fatigue,” stating that “they are mistaken — we are and will remain side by side with Ukraine.”
“This war is a triple failure for Russia: military, economic and strategic. It has strengthened NATO, whose expansion Russia sought to prevent; it has united Europeans whom Russia wanted to weaken; and it has exposed the fragility of imperialism from another era,” he emphasized.
The French president noted that since the stabilization of the front line in November 2022, Russia has captured only 1% of Ukrainian territory at the cost of 1.2 million of its soldiers killed and wounded, and is now “recruiting people on the African continent to send them to fight on the Ukrainian front, often without any prior training.”
He also stated that “since there will be no peace without security, and our security is being decided in Ukraine, we will continue to work within the Coalition of the Willing,” and mentioned a shared position with the United States regarding future security guarantees.
“Today’s meeting must enable us to continue moving forward. We will also ensure that European interests are properly taken into account in negotiations, including — at the appropriate time — when it comes to the security architecture necessary for our continent,” Macron said.
As reported, on Tuesday Macron convened the “Coalition of the Willing” in Paris “to further advance the historic work among more than 30 countries that have united their armed forces so that peace, when concluded in Ukraine, can be guaranteed.”
