War in Ukraine: Zelensky asks for help from France in this “war against freedom”

Published on: 03/23/2022 – 17:02 The Ukrainian head of state, Volodymyr Zelensky, spoke on Wednesday, by videoconference, to French parliamentarians about the war in Ukraine. In particular, he urged France to defend its values ​​in Ukraine and to help put an end to this “war against freedom, equality and fraternity”. Before the French Parliament, Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday March 23 urged France to support Ukraine in defending the values ​​of freedom, equality and fraternity against Moscow and asked French companies still present in Russia to stop finance the Kremlin’s “war machine”. “We expect from France, from your leadership, that you can ensure that Russia seeks peace to end this war against freedom, equality and fraternity, against everything that has made Europe united, free and diverse”, said the Ukrainian president, via a translator, before the two chambers of the French Parliament, to which he asked to observe a few moments of silence in tribute to the Ukrainian victims. of the war.”We expect from France, from your leadership the restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine. We can do it together and if there are people who have doubts among those present, I can tell you that your people are safe, like all the other peoples of Europe.” “French companies must leave the Russian market” “Renault, Auchan, Leroy Merlin must stop sponsoring Russia’s war machine, stop financing the murder of children and women, rapes. Everyone world must remember that values ​​are worth more than profits,” said the Ukrainian head of state. The Auchan chain of stores is emblematic of mass distribution in Russia, where it operates 231 stores for a turnover of 3.2 billion euros, or more than 10% of its overall activity. Auchan declined to comment. Last week, a spokesperson for the French distributor found the criticism leveled against him by the Ukrainian president extremely surprising. 000 employees in this country, who operate in 107 hypermarkets and 62 cities.Employees of the Ukrainian branch of Leroy Merlin asked the brand on Monday to cease its activities in Russia after the bombing of a store of the group in kyiv. Merlin, which belongs to the same group as Auchan, also declined to comment. invasion of Ukraine.Russia is also the second largest market for the Renault automobile group in the world behind Europe.The French manufacturer is present through the Avt group oVAZ, which halted part of its production in mid-March due to a shortage of components linked to Western sanctions imposed on Russia. Renault was not immediately available for comment. The group had indicated earlier on Wednesday that it was considering suspending production again at its Moscow plant from this evening due to logistical problems. Renault is all the more exposed as it is associated in Russia with the public conglomerate Russian Rostec, led by Sergei Tchemezov, an ally of Vladimir Putin. The French group TotalEnergies, also criticized for its maintenance in Russia, distanced itself somewhat from this strategic country on Tuesday by announcing that it would renounce all purchases of Russian oil or petroleum products. , at the latest by the end of the year. Multiplication of interventions in Western parliaments Volodymyr Zelensky, who is increasing his interventions in national parliaments – he was still speaking on Wednesday morning before the Japanese Diet and will speak on Thursday before the Swedish parliament – , will also address Thursday to NATO meeting in extraordinary summit in Brussels.>> See also: “War in Ukraine: the offensive strategy of V olodymyr Zelensky to Western parliaments”We need even more help, so that freedom does not lose, anti-tank weapons, anti-aircraft defense. You can help us”, insisted the Ukrainian president before the French Parliament. Comparing to the “ruins of Verdun” the destruction inflicted by the Russian army on Ukraine since the start of its invasion operation on February 24, Volodymyr Zelensky also called on the French presidency of the European Union to promote Ukraine’s “historic” accession to the community bloc. “Thank you France, glory to Ukraine”, concluded the Ukrainian president to the loud applause of the deputies and senators. With Reuters and AFP