Latest news with #ThierryBurkhard
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
UK, French military chiefs in Kiev for talks on aid and peace plans
Top military officials from France and the United Kingdom visited Kiev on Saturday for high-level talks aimed at ramping up support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia. French Chief of Staff Thierry Burkhard travelled to the Ukrainian capital alongside his British counterpart Tony Radakin. The pair met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and Defence Minister Rustem Umerov to discuss further military aid for Ukraine and a long-term strategy for the restructuring of the Ukrainian armed forces, Burkhard wrote on X. The army chiefs also discussed the deployment of international peacekeeping forces in Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire, Burkhard said. France and the UK have signalled willingness to send troops to Ukraine as part of a so-called "coalition of the willing" to monitor a potential ceasefire, but are looking for further partners. "Together, we want to ensure a lasting and firm peace in Ukraine, which is an important prerequisite for the security of the European continent," Burkhard wrote.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chiefs of French and UK armies discuss strengthening of Ukraine in Kyiv
During their visit to Kyiv, the chiefs of staff of the French and UK armed forces discussed the Ukrainian army's needs and tasks with the Ukrainian side to provide it with long-term support for its recovery and development. Source: press service for the General Staff of the French Armed Forces, as reported by European Pravda Details: The chiefs of staff of the French and UK armies visited Kyiv to meet with Ukraine's top leadership on Friday 4 April. The General Staff of the French Armed Forces wrote that the purpose of the visit was to discuss the needs and challenges of the Ukrainian army in order to provide long-term support for the reconstruction and development of its military model. "Strengthening the Ukrainian army is essential and is the first guarantee of the country's security to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine," they said. The statement also stressed that France and the United Kingdom would work closely together to identify and develop, as part of an international coalition, deterrence operations to keep Russia from mounting a new large-scale invasion once peace is restored. "The momentum of Franco-British cooperation will be carried forward in future discussions, making an active contribution to the security of the European continent," the statement added. Background: Commenting on the visit, General Thierry Burkhard, Chief of the General Staff of the French Armed Forces, said that the purpose of the meetings was to provide strong support to the Ukrainian army so that it could continue fighting. On 27 March in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that a Franco-British mission would be sent to Ukraine to strengthen the Ukrainian army. He added that work was ongoing on the potential deployment of a so-called "deterrent force" to Ukraine. On 28 March, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a meeting at the general staff representative level in Ukraine to discuss the future deployment of military contingents. Zelenskyy stated that it would be "the first in-depth meeting" with "some clarifications and some details". Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
French-UK delegation arrives in Kyiv to discuss military contingent
Representatives from France, the United Kingdom and Ukraine are meeting in Kyiv on 4 April to discuss the deployment of a military contingent to Ukraine. Source: European Pravda, citing Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne Details: Diplomatic sources told Suspilne that the meetings are taking place at the level of chiefs of military staff. The French delegation is led by General Thierry Burkhard, while Admiral Antony Radakin heads the UK delegation. They will hold discussions with Ukrainian military officials throughout the day. A meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also scheduled for Friday. The French-UK delegation's primary objective is to explore the potential deployment of a foreign contingent to Ukraine. Background: On 27 March, French President Emmanuel Macron announced in Paris that a French-British mission would be sent to Ukraine to assist in strengthening the Ukrainian military. He also mentioned that discussions regarding the possible deployment of a guarantee force to Ukraine were ongoing. On 28 March, President Zelenskyy announced that a meeting of general staff representatives would be held in Ukraine to discuss the future deployment of military contingents. He described it as "the first in-depth meeting" aimed at providing "clarifications and details". Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
The Independent
25-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Ukraine peacekeeping plans to continue despite lack of progress in Riyadh
Planning for peacekeeping operations in Ukraine is set to continue, despite few signs of progress towards a ceasefire agreement. Military chiefs from the 'coalition of the willing' are expected to hold further meetings at the UK's permanent joint headquarters in Northwood throughout the week in preparation for a European-led peacekeeping force. The meetings follow talks between the heads of the British and French armed forces in London on Monday, at which Admiral Sir Tony Radakin and General Thierry Burkhard discussed efforts to 'galvanise' Europe's response to the situation in Ukraine. Admiral Sir Tony said: 'Europe's two leading nuclear powers are stepping up to forge a stronger and deeper partnership that has a vital foundational role to play in the security of the continent. 'Today's deliberations will help shape the future of British and French military cooperation, and our shared efforts to support Ukraine with military aid now and after any peace deal.' But progress towards such a deal appears slow, with talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, yielding no major announcements on Monday. US officials have held separate talks with Ukrainian and Russian counterparts in an effort to secure agreement on a partial ceasefire after Moscow rejected a US-Ukraine proposal for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. On Monday evening, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said he expected his officials to meet with the US negotiators again, but did not specify when, and no deal has been announced. Meanwhile, Number 10 has sought to shrug off comments by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who dismissed Sir Keir Starmer's plans for an international force in Ukraine as 'a posture and a pose'. Mr Witkoff said in an interview with US journalist Tucker Carlson that it was based on a 'simplistic' idea of the Prime Minister and other European leaders thinking 'we have all got to be like Winston Churchill'. Asked if Sir Keir is worried by the remarks, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'No, the PM has repeatedly said that a lasting peace in Ukraine can only be achieved if we provide real and credible security assurances to deter Putin. 'And the coalition of the willing is a group of nations politically aligned to the defence, security and sovereignty of Ukraine… if there is a deal, it's a deal that has to be defended.'
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine peacekeeping plans to continue despite lack of progress in Riyadh
Planning for peacekeeping operations in Ukraine is set to continue, despite few signs of progress towards a ceasefire agreement. Military chiefs from the 'coalition of the willing' are expected to hold further meetings at the UK's permanent joint headquarters in Northwood throughout the week in preparation for a European-led peacekeeping force. The meetings follow talks between the heads of the British and French armed forces in London on Monday, at which Admiral Sir Tony Radakin and General Thierry Burkhard discussed efforts to 'galvanise' Europe's response to the situation in Ukraine. Admiral Sir Tony said: 'Europe's two leading nuclear powers are stepping up to forge a stronger and deeper partnership that has a vital foundational role to play in the security of the continent. 'Today's deliberations will help shape the future of British and French military cooperation, and our shared efforts to support Ukraine with military aid now and after any peace deal.' But progress towards such a deal appears slow, with talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, yielding no major announcements on Monday. US officials have held separate talks with Ukrainian and Russian counterparts in an effort to secure agreement on a partial ceasefire after Moscow rejected a US-Ukraine proposal for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. On Monday evening, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said he expected his officials to meet with the US negotiators again, but did not specify when, and no deal has been announced. Meanwhile, Number 10 has sought to shrug off comments by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who dismissed Sir Keir Starmer's plans for an international force in Ukraine as 'a posture and a pose'. Mr Witkoff said in an interview with US journalist Tucker Carlson that it was based on a 'simplistic' idea of the Prime Minister and other European leaders thinking 'we have all got to be like Winston Churchill'. Asked if Sir Keir is worried by the remarks, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'No, the PM has repeatedly said that a lasting peace in Ukraine can only be achieved if we provide real and credible security assurances to deter Putin. 'And the coalition of the willing is a group of nations politically aligned to the defence, security and sovereignty of Ukraine… if there is a deal, it's a deal that has to be defended.'
