The White House spoke about the results of Biden’s talks with Macron and Zelensky

President Joe Biden, who is currently on a five-day visit to France on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy, met on Friday with his colleagues – French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi. White House spokesman John Kirby told reporters some details of these meetings.

About this informs Voice of America.

Asked whether Biden shares the French leader’s more proactive stance on Ukraine’s defense, Kirby said:

“President Biden fully respects President Macron’s prerogatives and his ability to express his views on what is happening in Ukraine, how and why, and to what extent the French people will respond in support of Ukraine. And the French supported Ukraine with both lethal and non-lethal means, and we are grateful to them for that. They are a key member of a coalition of 50 countries that support Ukraine.  At the same time, the President of the United States and the Commander-in-Chief made it clear that there will be no American servicemen on the territory of Ukraine. It was so, and it will continue to be so“.

Kirby highlighted the “important difference” in Biden’s and Macron’s views on sending troops. According to him, the president clearly noted several points in his conversation with the French leader:

“First, we will do everything necessary to ensure that NATO is strengthened and able to defend itself. That is why he has sent 20,000 more American troops to the European continent and made sure that they remain there, so that NATO’s eastern flank is well protected. And he made it clear not only to our allies, but also to Russia. Second, we will do everything we can to protect Ukraine. And we will do it openly. Today, the president announced the allocation of another 225 million dollars as part of the aid package“, Kirby said, explaining that it is about the transfer of weapons already in American warehouses to Kyiv.

“And thirdly, from the very beginning, the President made it clear that we do not seek the Third World War and we do not seek a war with Russia. And he knows and has repeatedly stated that the escalation of this conflict is so terrible not only for the Ukrainian people; it can have catastrophic consequences for the entire European continent. The President made it clear and he will continue to emphasize it.”, – said Kirby. Commenting on Biden’s meeting with Zelensky.

The representative of the White House noted that the Ukrainian leader shared with President Biden “a very frank assessment of what is happening and under what pressure the Armed Forces of Ukraine are under, especially in the east, in Donbas.” He emphasized that the Ukrainians were able to hold back the Russian offensive, especially around Kharkiv. The Russian troops actually stopped there; their offensive on Kharkiv is practically complete, because they ran into the first line of defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and effectively stopped, if not retreated.

“But we, like the Ukrainians, cannot take it for granted. They want not only to stop the Russians, but also to push them back. And President Biden… assured President Zelensky that they will continue to receive our support.”, – emphasized Kirby.