Two French Presidential Candidates Call For Increased Support For Ukraine After Russian Attack On Train

(MENAFN- UkrinForm) According to Ukrinform, they posted messages to that effect on the social media platform X.

Former French Prime Minister and leader of the Horizons party, Édouard Philippe, stated that the drone strike on a civilian train-which occurred after an attempted attack in Leipzig-once again demonstrates the dangerous logic behind the Kremlin's actions.

“This proves once again that Vladimir Putin believes he can do whatever he wants-whether it comes to military destruction or provocations. Europe must not allow itself to be intimidated and must remain united in its firm response-this is the only way to make Russia understand that it must not go any further,” Philippe wrote.

According to him, it is time for Europe to tighten sanctions against Russia, ensure their enforcement, and increase aid to the Ukrainian resistance.

“Using frozen Russian assets to make Russia pay for the crimes it is committing, and protecting Ukrainian airspace to prevent civilian casualties, without becoming a party to the war ourselves,” he outlined as areas of support.

Another former prime minister, Gabriel Attal, leader of the centrist Renaissance party, emphasized how close the Russian strike was to the European Union's borders.

“This morning, Russia once again carried out a brutal drone attack on Ukraine's energy and railway infrastructure. Specifically, in the area of the 'Yahodyn' border crossing, two kilometers from Poland. Two kilometers from the borders of the European Union,” Attal noted.

He also pointed out that shortly before the strike, numerous European officials had passed through that station.

Read also: Diplomatic train with European security advisors was at Yahodyn shortly before Russian strike

“Vladimir Putin wants nothing but war; he seeks only escalation, and this strike on our doorstep must serve as a wake-up call. A wake-up call for new measures to protect Ukraine's skies, because these are also Europe's skies. A wake-up call to provide Ukrainians with the means they need to win,” he emphasized.

Attal also reiterated his proposal to use Russia's frozen assets, stating that they must“finally be confiscated to force the sole culprit-Vladimir Putin and Russia-to pay for this war,” the French presidential candidate said.

As reported by Ukrinform, shortly before the locomotive was struck by Russian forces, a diplomatic train carrying security advisors from several EU countries and former European leaders-including former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson-was at the Yahodyn station.

Photo: OP

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