France vows not to abandon Ukraine as Trump calls for a new president
Photo: French Minister of the Economy and Finance Roland Lescure (from open sources)
France will not betray Ukraine and will continue to push for tougher sanctions against Russia. Ukrainians, meanwhile, must decide for themselves who leads their country, French Minister of the Economy and Finance Roland Lescure stated.
The minister commented amid calls by US President Donald Trump for Ukraine to elect a new leader.
Lescure stressed that Paris would continue to support Kyiv. According to him, European foreign ministers will discuss expanding sanctions against Russia at their next meeting.
“I can tell you this: we will not betray Ukraine. Tomorrow, a meeting of European foreign ministers will take place, where the expansion of sanctions against Russia will be discussed. Today, we are seeking to strengthen sanctions, not ease them. We have stood by Ukraine from the very beginning, and we will remain by its side until the end,” the minister said.
He was responding to a question about whether he considered the US agreement with Russia on diesel fuel supplies, along with Trump’s statement that Ukraine needed a new president, a betrayal of Ukraine.
What France thinks about Trump’s call for Ukraine to change presidents
Lescure called Volodymyr Zelensky a “true hero” who has enabled Ukraine to continue resisting Russia’s invasion.
He stressed that choosing the head of state is exclusively the Ukrainian people’s prerogative and must be decided democratically.
“Only the Ukrainian people can choose their leader. If one day they want to change their leader, they will do so according to democratic rules. But today, Volodymyr Zelensky is the president of Ukraine. And he is an outstanding president,” the French minister said.
According to him, Ukrainians alone must determine their future and decide who will represent the country as president.
France calls for Ukraine to be protected ahead of winter
Lescure also recalled Ukraine’s readiness to stop strikes on Russian oil refineries if Russia, in return, halts attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
The minister highlighted the approaching winter and the need to protect Ukraine from Russian strikes.
“We are on the threshold of winter. We know how harsh winters can be in Ukraine. So the question today is whether we are capable of protecting Ukraine,” he stressed.
In addition, during the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Bangkok, Lescure plans to work on strengthening assistance to Ukraine and restoring the facility in Chornobyl damaged by a Russian strike.
Earlier, Trump said it was time for Ukraine to elect a new president. The statement came after he announced an agreement with Russia on diesel fuel supplies.
In response, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stressed that Zelensky has the support of the Ukrainian people and that only Ukrainian citizens can decide who leads their country.
