In a joint press conference with Macron, German Olaf Scholz and Italian Mario Draghi, Volodymyr Zelensky said: “Every day of delay or delayed decisions is an opportunity for the Russian army to kill Ukrainians or destroy our cities. “.
“There is a direct correlation: the more powerful weapons we receive, the faster we can liberate our people, our land.”
Macron announced that he would send six additional artillery systems to Kyiv and promised that Europe would remain on Ukraine’s side until victory. Germany has promised to send multi-launch rocket systems.
Scholz has dismissed allegations that he has withheld much-needed military support, saying Germany was one of Ukraine’s main military and financial sponsors. He said German support would continue “whenever necessary for Ukraine’s struggle.”
Putin considers talks “weak”
Prior to the visit, Oleksiy Arestovych, an adviser to the Ukrainian president, said the three leaders “would say that the war that is causing food and economic problems must end”.
“When the West talks to Putin, he sees it as a weakness. He is pushing. He killed people in Bucha and the West says we should save his face,” he said.
In May, Zelensky said he had rejected a suggestion by Macron that Ukraine should cede territory to Russia in peace talks.
Paris and Berlin agree that Russia should withdraw troops from the territory it had before the February invasion if peace talks are to begin. Draghi said any condition of peace had to be acceptable to Kyiv.
Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014. Mr Zelensky recently suggested that Ukraine could reclaim Crimea, which could put it on a collision course with the three leaders.
“We have to win this war and return our occupied territories. That will be our common victory,” Zelensky said in a phone call with Joe Biden on Wednesday night.
Macron, Scholz and Draghi traveled together by night train to Ukraine, along with Klaus Iohannis, the leader of Romania. Macron said the visit sent a message of “European unity.”