On April 4, 2024, the New Europe Center together with Ifri – French Institute of International Relations held the III Ukraine-France Forum in Paris.
During the three thematic panels, government officials and independent experts discussed:
- How the “War of attrition” can be won by Ukraine?
- Army, elites, society: can the “sacred union” be shattered?
- Big Euroatlantic deal for Ukraine: perspectives for the EU and NATO accession
The keynote speeches were delivered by Dmytro Kuleba, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister Delegate for Europe, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France.
Among the speakers of the event there were:
- Brice Roquefeuil, Director for Continental Europe, Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France
- Rostyslav Ogryzko, Director of Europe division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
- David Cvach, Direction of European Union, Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France
- Benjamin Haddad, President of the France-Ukraine Friendship Group at the French National Assembly
- Vadym Omelchenko, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to France
- Manuel Lafont Rapnouil, Head of Policy Planning, Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France
Key ideas of the Forum speakers:
Alyona Getmanchuk, Director, New Europe Center, Ukraine:
France has all the chances to become not just a pillar of the coalition of the determined in Europe, but also to lead it by right.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, French-Ukrainian relations have gone through several phases on the part of France: a phase of fear, a phase of compassion, a phase of solidarity. Today, France has entered a phase of courage.
We in Ukraine highly appreciate and are very grateful for the new decisive approaches announced by French President Macron.
The approaches clearly demonstrate that in order for Russia not to win the war, the statements and decisions capable of changing Putin’s strategic calculation are needed. The very assumption regarding the involvement of military contingents of the coalition of the determined can change this calculation, and therefore – change the course of the war.
When they say that the Ukrainians and the French are united by the war, it is not so – Ukrainians and the French are united by something more – and this such more is “freedom,” which we equally appreciate, which we are equally ready to defend.
Despite the fact that Ukraine and France are at completely different stages of the war with Russia: with regard to France, Russia is currently waging a hybrid war, and with regard to Ukraine – a bloody conventional one, although at one time it also started with a hybrid one.
Dmytro Kuleba, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine:
Every day I have the same topic of conversation – Patriot air defense systems. Sometimes colleagues who support Ukraine state that it is difficult. I am sure that if they had spent one night in Kharkiv, the task of finding the Patriot battery in the morning would have seemed less difficult than it is now.
I really want the whole Euro-Atlantic region to hear President Macron and start taking seriously what he says.
I always have to convince colleagues when everything is obvious. If part of Europe believes that war is still not at theur home and it is somewhere far away, this is a big mistake.
Today we need to make strong and permanent decisions to strengthen the army and the possibility of a Ukrainian offensive at the front.
Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister Delegate for Europe, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France:
France will continue to do everything possible to bring Ukraine closer to Euro-Atlantic structures so that Ukraine joins NATO in due time.
The ability of Ukraine’s resistance impressed the whole world. Ukrainians draw strength from internal cohesion against Russian aggression. Despite the exhaustion of war, your national unity is illustrated by the preservation of an impressive reform dynamic unprecedented in a country at war.
Ukraine has managed to implement a significant number of reforms, including those in quite complex areas. And the strength of this dynamic is the best trump card for Ukraine’s accession to the EU. It must be kept on in order to carry out further steps.
The key messages of panelists of Session 1. How the “War of attrition” can be won by Ukraine?
Please find below the video record of the Forum (Ukrainian):
For more information about previous Ukraine-France forums, please, visit the “New Europe” page by the following links: I Ukraine-France Forum (February 10, 2022) and II Ukraine-France Forum (March 10, 2023).
The forum is organized by the New Europe Center and the French Institute of International Relations (Ifri) with support the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
We express our gratitude to the International Renaissance Foundation for supporting the international advocacy efforts of the New Europe Center.
