Chiefs of French and UK armies discuss strengthening of Ukraine in Kyiv

During their visit to Kyiv, the chiefs of staff of the French and UK armed forces discussed the Ukrainian army's needs and tasks with the Ukrainian side to provide it with long-term support for its recovery and development. Source: press service for the General Staff of the French Armed Forces, as reported by European Pravda Details: The chiefs of staff of the French and UK armies visited Kyiv to meet with Ukraine's top leadership on Friday 4 April.

The General Staff of the French Armed Forces wrote that the purpose of the visit was to discuss the needs and challenges of the Ukrainian army in order to provide long-term support for the reconstruction and development of its military model.

"Strengthening the Ukrainian army is essential and is the first guarantee of the country's security to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine," they said. The statement also stressed that France and the United Kingdom would work closely together to identify and develop, as part of an international coalition, deterrence operations to keep Russia from mounting a new large-scale invasion once peace is restored.

"The momentum of Franco-British cooperation will be carried forward in future discussions, making an active contribution to the security of the European continent," the statement added. Background:

• Commenting on the visit, General Thierry Burkhard, Chief of the General Staff of the French Armed Forces, said that the purpose of the meetings was to provide strong support to the Ukrainian army so that it could continue fighting.
• On 27 March in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that a Franco-British mission would be sent to Ukraine to strengthen the Ukrainian army.

  He added that work was ongoing on the potential deployment of a so-called "deterrent force" to Ukraine.

• On 28 March, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a meeting at the general staff representative level in Ukraine to discuss the future deployment of military contingents.
• Zelenskyy stated that it would be "the first in-depth meeting" with "some clarifications and some details".

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