Germany Selenskyj meets Macron - Many dead after attack in Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi will be received in Paris today by French President Emmanuel Macron for talks on defense against Russia's war of aggression.
07.12.2024, 04:33
SDA
It is conceivable that Zelenskyi will also meet with US President-elect Donald Trump in the French capital, who will take office in January and could have a significant influence on the course of the war. The day before the talks, at least nine people were killed in another Russian glide bomb attack in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhia.
The French president's office announced that Macron would first sit down for bilateral talks with Trump at the Élysée Palace on Saturday afternoon before his meeting with Zelenskyi. The meeting will take place before the ceremonial reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral in the evening. This is Trump's first trip abroad since his victory in the presidential election at the beginning of November. It is still unclear whether the Republican will also meet with Zelensky in Paris.
There is great fear in Ukraine that Trump could drastically reduce US military aid for the country attacked by Russia after his swearing-in on January 20 and thus hand him a defeat. The United States is still Ukraine's most important supporter and largest arms supplier. There are also fears in many EU states that Trump could enforce an unbalanced ceasefire arrangement that would effectively make Russia look like the winner of the war of aggression that Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin ordered in February 2022 in violation of international law.
Scholz: Can develop strategy for Ukraine with Trump
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz expects an agreement with Trump on how to proceed. "I have already spoken to the future US President at length on the phone, and we are also in direct contact with his security policy officials. I am confident that we can develop a joint strategy for Ukraine," the SPD politician told the newspapers of the Funke media group. When asked whether Ukraine would have to cede territory for a ceasefire, he replied that nothing should be decided over the heads of the Ukrainians.
Germany will remain by far the strongest supporter of Ukraine in Europe, Scholz emphasized. "It is important that the killing comes to an end soon and that Ukraine's independence and sovereignty remain guaranteed."
Selenskyj: "Putin does not want real peace"
While the major issues of war and peace continue to be debated at a political level, the daily bloodshed in Ukraine continues. Zelensky condemned the serious glide bomb attack on Zaporizhia as Russian terror. According to him, at least two people were killed and 17 injured in another rocket attack on the southeastern Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih.
"Thousands of such attacks carried out by Russia during this war make it clear: Putin does not want real peace - he wants the opportunity to treat every country in this way, with bombs, missiles and all other forms of violence," said Selenskyj. "Only through strength can we oppose this. And only through strength can real peace be created."
The attack in Zaporizhia hit a car repair shop and paralyzed parts of the power supply, the governor of the region said. Several injured people were taken to hospitals. The information could not initially be independently verified.
The front line between Russian and Ukrainian troops runs just over 30 kilometers southeast of Zaporizhia. Russian aircraft can drop the glide bombs, which are equipped with their own propulsion system, from distances of over 50 kilometers.
