02-11-2022 French President Emmanuel Macron and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, spoke on Tuesday and discussed Russia’s suspension of Ukrainian grain exports by sea corridor and nuclear safety around the Zaporizhia plant. [Shutterstock/Gints Ivuskans] Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: ItalianPrint Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram An increase in military and civilian aid to Ukraine was announced by the Elysée on Tuesday, which added that two future conferences on the topics would take place in Paris in mid-December. French President Emmanuel Macron and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, spoke on Tuesday and discussed Russia’s suspension of Ukrainian grain exports by sea corridor and nuclear safety around the Zaporizhia plant. France is regularly criticised for its lack of investment in the war in Ukraine compared to its capabilities. In response, the French president authorised the dispatch of six additional Caesar guns to Ukraine in mid-October, in addition to the 18 already delivered. Now, Macron has decided to redouble his efforts. “We need to act before winter,” he said during his call with Zelenskyy, in which the two counterparts discussed two topics in particular. First, on the military level: “we are fully mobilised to increase our military support to Ukraine as soon as possible, particularly anti-aircraft defence,” announced the French President. Then, on the civilian level, to repair and improve the electricity and water supply infrastructures “considerably damaged by the Russian attacks,” he said. This destruction affected “nearly four million Ukrainians,” Zelenskyy said last Friday (28 October), creating issues such as “unprecedented” power cuts, according to the private national investor DTEK. For this, the French president wishes to “rapidly mobilise the international community and the private sector.” The two heads of state have agreed to hold two conferences to organise aid to the Ukrainian people. The first will be held on 12 December in Paris between the two presidents to “mobilise French companies.” The Elysée did not confirm if the Ukrainian president would attend in person. The second conference will take place in Paris the day after the first one and will call on the entire international community to collectively help the Ukrainian people overcome the winter. The two presidents also discussed the suspension by Russia of the implementation of the agreement on the export of Ukrainian grain by sea corridor. For Macron, this is an attack on “global food security.” The two counterparts also discussed the pressure exerted by the Russian army on Ukrainian personnel at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant. The Ukrainian President also called German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, expressing his “appreciation” for the air defence they provided and calling for the construction of an “air shield over Ukraine.” (Paul Messad | EURACTIV.fr)