France and EU support for Ukraine 'will not waver', Macron vows

French President Emmanuel Macron warned his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin early Saturday not to "count on any fatigue from Europeans" over the war in Ukraine, pledging that France's support for Kyiv "will not waver". This comes amid Europe-wide rallies and protests marking the second anniversary of Russia's invasion.

"Battered and bruised, but still standing. Ukraine is fighting for itself, for its ideals, for our Europe. Our commitment at its side will not waver," Macron wrote in a message on X marking the second anniversary of Russia's invasion, which falls on Saturday.

A separate statement from Macron's office touted the European Union's support for Kyiv, including accepting refugees, offering civil and military aid, and levelling sanctions on Moscow.

"President Putin's Russia must not count on any fatigue from Europeans," the statement said.

"France is also committed to continuing its support on all fronts, including the supply of military equipment, cooperation between defence industries through the development of co-productions, training, intelligence and civilian aid," it added.

"The outcome of this war will be decisive for European interests, values and security."

The French pledge of support came as other key Ukrainian allies renewed their commitment to assisting Kyiv.

Sanctions

US President Joe Biden on Friday announced more than 500 new sanctions against Russia, while vowing sustained pressure to stop President Vladimir Putin's "war machine".

The sanctions, described as the largest single tranche since the start of the war, also seek to impose a cost for the death last week in a Siberian prison of Putin's most vocal critic, Alexei Navalny.

Britain, meanwhile, announced Saturday a new £245 million (€286 million) defence package to help boost the production of "urgently needed artillery ammunition" for Ukraine, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak insisting in an earlier statement that "tyranny will never triumph".

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asserted that Ukraine would be victorious, as he attended a ceremony at Kyiv's Gostomel airport, which was targeted by Russia in the first days of the all-out assault in 2022.

He spoke alongside the Canadian, Italian and Belgian prime ministers and EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen who came to Kyiv to mark the date.

Supporters of Ukraine in France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Denmark and other European countries gathered in the streets on Saturday to mark the second anniversary of the conflict.

True valour

In Britain, King Charles III praised the "determination and strength" of the Ukrainian people.

"Despite the tremendous hardship and pain inflicted upon them, Ukrainians continue to show the heroism with which the world associates them so closely," the monarch wrote.

"Theirs is true valour, in the face of indescribable aggression."

The British sovereign went to say he continued to be "greatly encouraged that the United Kingdom and our allies remain at the forefront of international efforts to support Ukraine".

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Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni arrived in Kyiv Saturday to preside over a G7 virtual meeting.

It is the first meeting of the G7, which groups the United States, Japan, Germany, France, Britain, Italy and Canada, under the Italian presidency.

Italian diplomatic sources said the meeting would last 90 minutes and a joint declaration on Ukraine was due to be adopted.

"Italy, Europe and the West must continue to back Kyiv because defending Ukraine means .... keeping war at bay, protecting our national interests and preventing the international order based on rules from breaking down," Meloni told Italy's Il Giornale newspaper in an interview published Saturday.

(with AFP)