As the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings is commemorated, the shadow of the Ukraine conflict looms large over the ceremonies. French President Emmanuel Macron has pledged to provide Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to Ukraine and train 4,500 Ukrainian soldiers. This move represents a significant shift in France’s military support for Ukraine, aligning with US President Joe Biden’s commitment to continued aid, as demonstrated by a new $225 million military package that includes HIMARS systems and ammunition. Biden, alongside other Western leaders, has drawn parallels between the fight against tyranny during World War II and the current struggle in Ukraine, emphasizing the unity of democracies against aggression and warning that ‘democracy is more threatened than ever’ while stressing that US weapons are not for shooting at the Kremlin and that Ukraine cannot attack Moscow with American missiles despite the partial lifting of a ban on Ukraine using US-supplied weapons to fire back at Russian targets inside Russia and the evidence of American weapons being used to attack deep into Russian territory. Russian forces have responded with drone and missile attacks, causing power outages in 12 Ukrainian regions and prompting Poland to mobilize its air force, and the Ukrainian military has promised to take revenge for every military crime committed against Ukraine. French politician Florian Philippo has criticized Macron’s decision to send fighter jets to Ukraine, calling it ‘absolutely crazy’ and a move that could bring the world closer to a third world war. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who attended the D-Day event in Normandy, has drawn parallels between the Allied forces’ fight against Nazi Germany and Ukraine’s resistance against Russia. Macron and Zelensky are set to meet at the Élysée Palace to discuss the needs of the Ukrainian army on the battlefield.
Key points
- France will provide Ukraine with Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets and train 4,500 Ukrainian soldiers.
- The US has pledged a new military aid package to Ukraine worth $225 million, including HIMARS systems.
- Russian drone and missile attacks have led to power outages in 12 Ukrainian regions.
- Western leaders have reaffirmed their support for Ukraine at the D-Day anniversary, drawing parallels to the fight against World War II tyranny.
