Objective of the intervention: to clarify the doctrine. The Elysée took the floor, this Friday, June 10, to clarify its intentions after the recent declarations of the Head of State who called “not to humiliate Russia”. Criticized by Ukraine and several European partners after the exit of Emmanuel Macron, the French presidency made a point of recalling in which camp it is located. “As the president had the opportunity to say, we wish victory for Ukraine,” recalled the Elysée.

The French leader was suspected by some Eastern European allies of being ready to agree to Russian territorial advances to secure a ceasefire. “We want the territorial integrity of Ukraine to be restored. “The military conquest of foreign territories cannot be accepted under any conditions”, corrected the French presidency.

“The military conquest of foreign territories cannot be accepted under any conditions,” insisted the Elysée. “We are simply saying that Ukraine must be victorious in this affair and that, moreover, we must find the means for a peace which will be negotiated with respect for international law, for the sovereignty of Ukraine”, added an adviser to President Macron.

In this perspective of clarification, the Elysée announced that Emmanuel Macron should go to Ukrainian territory when the diplomatic trip will be “useful to President Volodymyr Zelensky”. Until then, he will travel to Romania first and then to Moldova. The first visit will be on Tuesday, to meet the French army troops stationed there. 500 French soldiers have been deployed there since February 26, when France acts as a framework nation for the forces of NATO’s transatlantic military alliance.

The trip planned for Wednesday in Moldova will aim to reaffirm France’s support for this country also affected by the fighting. The proximity to the Russian-Ukrainian border and the series of explosions that took place in the spring in Transnistria are worrying the Moldovan authorities. Just like Ukraine, from the first day of the war, Moldova submitted its candidacy to join the European Union on March 3.

France has also moved closer to the position supported by several Eastern European countries and the United Kingdom by showing itself in favor of an “operation” to lift the blockade of the port of Odessa, in the south of Ukraine. The intervention, under the aegis of the United Nations, would make it possible to export Ukrainian cereals to countries that need it, in particular the African continent. Russian President Vladimir Putin had given his “consent” to such an undertaking during an exchange with Emmanuel Macron on May 28, which the Elysee Palace did not fail to recall. The line with the Kremlin is still far from being cut.