War in Ukraine: Zelensky in the National Assembly, French arrested in Russia, accession to the EU… update on the situation

Volodymyr Zelensky at the National Assembly on June 7, 2024. MAXPPP – YOAN VALAT

Every day, Midi Libre takes stock of the situation in Ukraine. This Saturday, June 1, 2024, discover the latest news around this conflict.

Macron’s accusations

Emmanuel Macron on Friday accused certain "pacifists" of being "capitulards", in an allusion to some of his opponents, notably in France, who criticize him for his position on Ukraine.

"All supporters of peace should have only one language in our country. Not the one to tell us don't help Ukraine, the leader of Ukraine is going too far'", launched the French president in a press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky. "We know this camp of pacifists, it's that of the capitulators, it's the ;#39;spirit of defeat", he added.

Military instructors in Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Friday that he wanted to "finalize a coalition" countries ready to send military instructors to Ukraine, ensuring that "several of our partners have already given their agreement", without specifying which ones.

"Several of our partners have already given their agreement" and " we will use the coming days to finalize a coalition", declared the head of state, judging "legitimate&quot ; this request from Ukraine. He also responded to the statement by the spokesperson for the Russian Embassy in France saying that these instructors would be a "legitimate target". "Who would we be to give in to Russia's invocations or threats ?", retorted Emmanuel Macron.

Accession of Ukraine to the EU

Emmanuel Macron gave his support on Friday to the "effective launch" of membership negotiations for the European Union #39;Ukraine to EU“by the end of the month”, during a press conference at the Elysée Palace alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Emmanuel Macron promised that “France will continue” to support “Ukraine in all forums”, particularly “at European level, to try to obtain the effective launch of accession negotiations by the end of the months".

The European Commission has determined that Ukraine has met all the preconditions for possible EU accession negotiations, diplomatic sources said in Brussels on Friday. But the decision requires unanimity, and Russia's ally Hungary is threatening to block the process.

Frenchman Laurent Vinatier placed in pre-trial detention

Frenchman Laurent Vinatier pleaded guilty, Friday before a Moscow court, to not having registered as "foreign agent" while collecting information on the Russian army. He was remanded in custody until August 5.

The French national, arrested Thursday, aged 47, arrived handcuffed at court and placed in a cage with metal bars reserved for defendants, shows a short video broadcast by the Moscow judicial services. He is punishable by up to five years in prison.

The Center for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), a Switzerland-based conflict management organization, confirmed on Thursday that Laurent Vinatier, a researcher, was among its advisers on Russia and Eurasia. Under Russian law, anyone collecting political or military information about Russia and receiving financial or other assistance from abroad must contact the Ministry of Justice and ask for help. 39;register as "foreign agent".

Laurent Vinatier's lawyer, Alexeï Sinitsyne, said the researcher had been able to contact the French embassy in Moscow. The French consul general in the Russian capital, Patrice Servantie, wrote a letter to the court asking that the national not be placed in detention, a request rejected by the judges, according to the lawyer. French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday denied accusations of espionage made against the researcher by Russian authorities, denouncing a campaign of " intoxication" of Moscow in parallel with the war in Ukraine.

Several other Westerners are detained in Russia: American Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich, Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva and ex-Marine Paul Whelan. Russian legislation on "foreign agents" has been used repeatedly over the past decade to muzzle or discredit opposing politicians, journalists or organizations in the Kremlin.

Colleagues of Laurent Vinatier, trained in France and a specialist in Russia, the Caucasus and Central Asia, described him as a respected researcher and rejected allegations that he was involved in espionage activities in Russia.

"He is a phenomenal scholar who has conducted research under risky conditions for over 15 years, including in Chechnya and Belarus&quot ;, said Jean-François Ratelle, assistant professor at the University of Ottawa, who knows Laurent Vinatier professionally.

According to Frédérique Longuet-Marx, a French anthropologist who advised the researcher for his doctoral thesis on the Chechen diaspora, the researcher worked on the restoration of peace in several countries of the former -Soviet Union and he is the author of two books on Chechnya.

Zelensky at the National Assembly

This Friday, June 7, the Ukrainian president spoke before the National Assembly in Paris. The Head of State was traveling in France on the occasion of the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. We summarize his speech, broadcast on BFMTV.

According to the Ukrainian president, "the Russian regime knows no limits. Europe is no longer enough for him". Adding also that "all this is targeting Ukraine today, but it could target other countries tomorrow. We are already seeing how this aggression can develop. The Baltics, Poland, the Balkans and more".

For the head of state who has been in the grip of a war against Russia for almost two and a half years, "we live in a time when Europe is no longer a continent of peace. There are those who seek to divide Europe& ;quot;.

Volodymyr Zelensky deplored the destruction of certain cities and spoke of filtration camps, deportations and hatred which according to him are swarming across his territory. Before referring to the Landings and hoping: "One day, we will be able to see the planes in the sky like in Normandy."

He also praised the solidarity of French families having agreed to welcome Ukrainian refugees& ;nbsp;"who were fleeing the war".

To conclude his speech, the Ukrainian president did not fail to thank France for the support given and the aid provided:  "Thank you for standing with us to defend life. Thank you France for not having hesitated and for choosing the side of humanity in this war of culture and international law. From the first days, from the first hours of this aggression by which, Russia tried to erase the 80 years of Europe, I know I can count on you."