Paris, 31 August 2023 (TDI): The Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba embarked on his visit to France on August 29, where he held meetings with French political officials and representatives of French defence companies in an effort to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
At the start of the visit to France, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister met with various leading French military-industrial complex companies that are members of GICAT (Group of French Industries for Land and Air-land Defense and Security ) on August 29, in Paris.
The meeting was centred on discussing specific Ukrainian-French cooperation and co-production projects.
“Many have already accepted the invitation to Ukraine’s Defence Industries Forum.” Ukrainian Foreign Minister notified.
After meeting with the representatives of French defence companies, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister met with his French counterpart, Catherine Colonna in Paris.
In a joint press conference led by both Foreign Ministers, Dmytro Kuleba notified his meeting with the representatives of French defence companies and his invite to them to participate in the first Defence Industries Forum that is to be held in Ukraine this autumn.
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister stressed that the aim was to create an integrated system of arms and ammunition production involving Ukraine and European countries.
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister also paid his thanks to the French President, Emmanuel Macron, the French government and the people of France for the military, energy and political support towards Ukraine since the start of Russian invasion.
Apart from that, he highlighted France’s support for Ukraine’s path to the EU and NATO.
He also emphasized the steps to be taken to open negotiations on Ukraine’s membership in the EU by the end of the year 2023.
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister also underlined in the press conference that the way to sustainable and just peace in Ukraine was through the implementation of the Ukrainian President’s Peace Formula.
“Restoring peace in Ukraine means restoring its territorial integrity within the 1991 borders. Ukraine has all the legal, political, moral and historical grounds for this,” the Ukrainian Foreign Minister stated.
The French Foreign Minister on her part, stressed that France will continue to support Ukraine amid the ongoing war with Russia.
Moreover, the French Foreign Minister criticized the destruction of Ukrainian infrastructure and cereals by Russia.
She also vowed that France would pursue its efforts to ensure food security in international markets.
Both Foreign Ministers discussed the Black Sea Grain Initiative, where the Ukrainian Foreign Minister emphasized that Ukraine was interested in resuming its work and also working to develop alternative ways of exporting grain to foreign markets.
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After the joint press conference, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister also addressed the French Ambassadors’ Conference in Paris on August 30.
In his address, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister focused on Ukraine’s counteroffensive course of action against Russia and France’s position in European integration.
Following that, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister was received by the President of France on August 30.
During the meeting, both sides discussed further military support towards Ukraine, the expansion of the Peace Formula coalition and the possibility of exporting Ukraine’s grain to African countries and other regions.
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister also expressed his gratitude as France reaffirmed its support to Ukraine.
After the completion of the visit to France, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister will be visiting the Kingdom of Spain.
