A Remarkable Day for Franco-Ukrainian Cooperation
On Monday, December 1, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs – France Diplomatie welcomed a high-level Ukrainian delegation for a day dedicated to solidarity, culture, and the future of Ukrainian children.
The first part of the day focused on the “Bring Kids Back” conference, an initiative by President Zelensky aimed at enabling the return to Ukraine of 20,000 children forcibly taken from their families by Russia. Olena Zelenska, Brigitte Macron, Jean-Noël Barrot, Andrii Sybiha, Isabelle Rome, Bernard-Henri Lévy, and Sarah El Hairistressed the urgency of action.
“When we say that our children were deported to Russia, they did not just change addresses – their lives were shattered, and their psyche was broken.”
With these words, Olena Zelenska called for strengthened diplomatic, financial, and logistical support. France responded immediately by announcing the funding of a third center in Cherkasy to assist the return and reintegration of these young people, many of whom are orphans.
The session also highlighted the commitment of local territories, with speeches from Valérie Pécresse, reaffirming the support of the Île-de-France Region for the partner oblasts of Kyiv and Chernihiv, Katja Krüger for the Brittany region, and Aziliz Gouez for the Nantes metropolitan area.
As Brigitte Macron emphasized: “We are with you.” Ukraine is not alone; France stands by its side for freedom.
The day continued with the opening of the cultural season “The Journey to Ukraine: Culture Strikes Back”, organized by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Culture, the Institut français, the Ukrainian Institute in France, and the Embassy of Ukraine in France (Посольство України у Франції).
To inaugurate this segment, two young piano virtuosos, including Nora Kostenko, 10 years old and winner of the SNCF competition “À vous de jouer”, offered a graceful musical interlude.
Following inspiring speeches by Jean-Noël Barrot, Eva Nguyen Binh, Volodymyr Sheiko, Rachida Dati, Andrii Sybiha, and Alexandra Mahé for the City of Lille, the words of the writer Andriy Kurkov resonated powerfully:
“Please, read Ukrainian literature, watch Ukrainian films, listen to Ukrainian music, attend Ukrainian theater performances. Not just for the next four months, but from today until the end of the century.”
A powerful reminder that culture – through its notes, words, and artistic gestures – brings people together and carries a message of hope.
Thanks to all those committed alongside Ukraine, keeping the unwavering Franco-Ukrainian friendship alive.
