The leaders of Britain and France met in Paris with Ukraine on the agenda.
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Version 0 of 1. The leaders of Britain and France, two of Ukraine’s biggest allies, were meeting in Paris on Friday to discuss issues including weapons and other support for Ukraine the day after Russia blasted Ukraine with advanced missiles. Rishi Sunak, Britain’s prime minister, arrived in France with senior ministers in his administration for a summit at Élysée Palace, the presidential residence, with President Emmanuel Macron of France. “As we face new and unprecedented threats, it is vital that we fortify the structures of our alliance so we are ready to take on the challenges of the future,” Mr. Sunak said in a statement on Thursday, according to Reuters. “That is what we will do at the U.K.-France summit.” Mr. Sunak’s office added that the nations would coordinate supplying weapons to Ukraine and training Ukrainian marines. The two leaders met with President Volodymyr Zelensky separately last month when the Ukrainian leader made a rare trip outside Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, to meet with allies in Britain, France and Belgium, a whirlwind tour in which he pleaded for more weapons. Mr. Zelensky implored European allies to send military fighter jets, heavy weapons and ammunition, issues that remain on the table. Britain promised to train Ukrainian troops on NATO-standard jets and suggested that the delivery of warplanes could come next, but no Western allies have pledged to send any to Kyiv. Last month, France said it had not ruled out sending fighter jets to Ukraine, but Mr. Macron laid out several conditions. Among them was that providing such equipment would not lead to an escalation of tensions or be used “to touch Russian soil.” Ties between Britain and France have been strained since Britain decided to split from the European Union. But the nations have a rare common goal in supporting Ukraine, and there appears to be a heightened effort to solidify their relationship. A week ago, Buckingham Palace said that King Charles III and Camilla, the queen consort, would go to France this month as one of their first state visits since Charles ascended to the throne in September. While in France, on a trip that begins March 26, the royal couple will join Mr. Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, in Paris for a ceremony of remembrance and wreath laying at the Arc de Triomphe. The king and queen consort will also attend a state banquet in their honor at the Palace of Versailles. Mark Landler and Jenny Gross contributed reporting. |