French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday invited Ukraine's allies to attend the Bastille Day celebrations in Paris on July 14, UNN reports, citing Politico.
Details
Speaking on the sidelines of the EU-Western Balkans summit in Montenegro, Macron stated that the so-called "Coalition of the Willing" would discuss support for Ukraine and attend France's annual military parade.
The "Coalition of the Willing," led by France and the United Kingdom, is a loose alliance of over 30 countries seeking to provide Ukraine with security guarantees in the event of a ceasefire.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this week wrote a letter to Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin for the first time since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, calling for peace talks.
The French President welcomed the move, telling reporters on Friday that it was a "good initiative."
"Today, it is Ukraine and Russia who can build a ceasefire and a peace plan," Macron said. "Europeans can help because we are the main contributors to the war effort."
Macron noted that Europeans must be "at the table" during negotiations, as they are affected by the security implications of a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia.
The French President also stated that he would meet with Zelenskyy "in the coming days," confirming reports that the Ukrainian leader has been invited to participate in the G7 summit later this month.
Zelenskyy to participate in G7 summit in France - media02.06.26, 22:42