Emmanuel Macron postpones visit to Ukraine due to security reasons

French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Ukraine has been postponed for security reasons, Challenges reports citing a statement from the Elysee Palace. It was assumed that Mr. Macron would arrive in Kyiv on February 13-14. A new date for the trip has not yet been set.

A statement from the Elysee Palace stressed that the chosen date for the trip was not final. They decided to change it in order to devote more time to ensuring the security of the French president. In addition, as Challenges writes, Emmanuel Macron wanted to discuss with European partners additional assistance to Ukraine, which he could announce during his visit to Kyiv and Odessa.

A new date for Mr. Macron’s trip to Ukraine has not yet been set. According to Challenges, one of the possible dates could be February 24, the second anniversary of the entry of Russian troops into Ukraine. But on this day, as the publication draws attention, the annual international agricultural salon starts in Paris, which has acquired particular importance against the backdrop of protests by French farmers.

The day before, February 10, Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky had a telephone conversation. As Mr. Zelensky said, they discussed the situation in the combat zone and the defense needs of Ukraine. “I thanked Macron and the French people for their unwavering support. A very positive and focused conversation,” he said.

The last time Emmanuel Macron visited Ukraine was on June 16, 2022. In Kyiv, he, as well as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, who arrived with him, met with Vladimir Zelensky. At the final press conference, Mr. Macron announced the transfer of six Caesar artillery systems to Ukraine.