Two French Presidential Candidates Call For Increased Support For Ukraine

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

"This once again proves that Vladimir Putin believes he can do whatever he wants - both in terms of military destruction and provocations. Europe must not allow itself to be intimidated and must remain united in delivering a 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 strengthen sanctions against Russia, ensure their enforcement, and increase assistance to the Ukrainian resistance.

He identified the use of frozen Russian assets to make Russia pay for the crimes it is committing, as well as protecting Ukrainian airspace to prevent civilian deaths without itself becoming a party to the war, as key areas of support.

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

Another former prime minister and leader of the centrist Renaissance group, Gabriel Attal, 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. In particular, in the area of the Yahodyn border crossing, two kilometers from Poland. Two kilometers from the borders of the European Union," Attal said.

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

"Vladimir Putin wants only war, seeks only escalation, and this strike at our doorstep must be a shock. A shock to introduce new measures to protect Ukrainian skies, because they are also Europe's skies. A shock to provide Ukrainians with the means they need to achieve victory," he stressed.

Attal also reiterated his proposal to use frozen Russian assets, which, he said, must "finally be confiscated in order to make the only party responsible for this war - Vladimir Putin and Russia - pay for it."

As Ukrinform reported, shortly before Russian forces struck a locomotive at Yahodyn station, a diplomatic train carrying security advisers from several EU countries and former European leaders was present there, including former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

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