France is showing increasing support for Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic prospects, according to reports from the second Ukraine-France forum held recently. The event was seen as a positive sign that French diplomacy has changed its opinion about Ukraine’s future, with some French officials admitting that they were previously wrong in their views. The restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity was said to have no alternatives.
Positive Signs for EU and NATO Membership
The forum showed support for Ukraine’s EU membership, with France having given the impetus for the decision to consider the country’s application at a summit last March. France presided over the EU during the first half of 2022, giving President Macron a chance to demonstrate his leadership. Ukraine’s accession to the EU is a complicated process, but France has shown its willingness to support the country in its bid.
Furthermore, the French authorities are preparing to support Ukraine with weapons, including new 155-millimeter “Caesars.” The production of Caesars has tripled, according to Benjamin Haddad, a parliamentarian and head of the “France-Ukraine” friendship group in the National Assembly. He assured the forum that even if the government changes, the policy launched now will remain in force. This shows that France is committed to helping Ukraine both during and after the conflict.
French Private Businesses Remain Committed to Ukraine
Despite the ongoing conflict, French private businesses have continued to remain committed to Ukraine. Not a single French company has left Ukraine since the Russian invasion, according to Bertrand Barrier, chairman of the board of the French-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Some have reorganised, but many are looking to invest more in the country. This indicates a positive attitude towards Ukraine’s future and shows that French companies are willing to help the country rebuild and recover.
France’s shift in opinion towards Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic prospects and offer of military aid marks a positive development in France-Ukraine relationship.
