30 December, 2023
On December 30, 2023, the Washington Post published an investigation exposing Russian interference in French public and political life.The revelations are both shocking and alarming, highlighting Russia’s targeted efforts to destabilize France, which Kremlin documents describe as “vulnerable to political unrest and receptive to lobbying directed at political leaders.”The Washington Post reports that Sergei Kiriyenko, deputy chief of staff to Vladimir Putin, explicitly tasked Kremlin political strategists with “fostering political discord in France,” “undermining France’s support for Kyiv,” and “weakening NATO’s resolve” through social media, political figures, opinion leaders, and activists.For example, Kremlin strategists deployed troll farms to spread messages portraying s...
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29 December, 2023
Russia launches one of the largest attacks on Ukrainian cities during the holiday seasonOn Friday, December 29, 2023, Russia carried out one of the largest assaults on Ukrainian cities since the start of its full-scale invasion. Deliberately timed during the holiday season, the attack targeted civilians and vital infrastructure across the country.Using nearly every weapon in its arsenal—"Kindzhals," S-300s, X-101/X-505 cruise missiles, and Shahed drones—Russia launched a total of 122 missiles and 36 drones. Thanks to Ukraine’s air defense, the majority were intercepted, but nearly 120 cities and villages were targeted. The attack claimed the lives of 40 civilians, injured over 160, and destroyed numerous civilian structures.Critical institutions were deliberately targeted, i...
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14 December, 2023
On December 14, 2023, the European Council made a historic decision by opening accession negotiations with Ukraine. This crucial step marks the realization of the Ukrainian people's European aspirations and their rightful place within the united and supportive family of Europe.The Ukrainian people have resolutely fought for European values, demonstrating unwavering courage, sacrificing lives, and shedding blood. Since gaining independence in 1991, Ukraine has endured monumental challenges. The two democratic revolutions of 2004 and 2014 were driven by the Ukrainian people's desire to join the European community and break away from the imperialist legacy imposed by Russia.In 2014, following the Revolution of Dignity, when Ukraine was ready to embrace its European path—a...
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9 November, 2023
On November 9, 2023, at La Gaîté Lyrique, the Ukrainian Institute was officially established as a major player in Ukrainian cultural diplomacy in France, in the presence of Ukraine's First Lady, Olena Zelenska.The welcoming speeches by Carine Rolland, Deputy Mayor of Paris for Culture, and Arnaud Ngatcha, Deputy Mayor of Paris for Europe, international relations, and Francophonie, were followed by interventions from representatives of the French institutions partnering with the Ukrainian Institute.State Secretary Laurence Boone and Minister of Culture Rima Abdul Malak expressed their support for the Ukrainian Institute in France. Elisabeth Quin, journalist, then moderated a discussion between Eva Nguyen Binh, President of the French Institute, and Volodymyr Sheiko, General Direc...
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10 October, 2023
🔍 Benjamin Jung’s investigation for Blast on the Russian Papers reveals that French components, despite the embargo, were delivered to Russia in 2023. Companies named include Lynred and STMicroelectronics, whose products were used in Russian military equipment.💰 Between January and April 2023, over 5,000 Russian import declarations for STMicroelectronics materials were recorded, totaling $29.5 million. These findings undermine STMicroelectronics’ claims of compliance, as the company had stated it aligned its exports with regulations as early as February 2022.⚠️ The Observatoire des Armements, an independent research center, criticized these shipments, accusing both the government and companies of failing to uphold sanctions. These findings contradic...
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11 July, 2023
On July 10, 2023, the French Senate, under the high patronage of its President Gérard Larcher and at the initiative of Roger Karoutchi, Vice President of the Senate, along with Nadia Sollogoub, President of the France-Ukraine Interparliamentary Friendship Group, hosted a roundtable at the Palais du Luxembourg. This event, dedicated to decentralized cooperation between France and Ukraine, brought together parliamentarians, representatives of local authorities from both countries, as well as institutional and associative partners.The roundtable provided an opportunity to review the state of cooperation between French and Ukrainian local authorities since the large-scale Russian invasion. The discussions were structured around two thematic sessions: the first focusing on strengthening ...
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5 May, 2023
On Thursday, May 4, 2023, a symposium was held in the European Affairs Committee Room of the French National Assembly, organized by Benjamin Haddad, MP for Paris, spokesperson for the Renaissance group, and president of the France-Ukraine Friendship Group. The event aimed to discuss a proposed resolution urging France and the European Union to designate the Wagner private military group as a terrorist organization.The Wagner Group, a key enforcer of Russian aggression, has established itself as a destructive force on the international stage. With operations in Ukraine, Syria, and several African countries, this private militia epitomizes the Kremlin’s hybrid warfare strategy, operating in the shadows to circumvent international law. Wagner’s atrocities, often marked by egregious hum...
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20 April, 2023
On the occasion of the International Summit of Cities and Regions held in Kyiv on April 19-20, 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky awarded the city of Paris the title of "Rescuer City." This summit, organized by Ukraine to strengthen ties between Ukrainian and international communities and promote European integration at the local level, provided an opportunity to recognize Paris's long-standing commitment to Ukraine and its people.Among the many initiatives undertaken by the city, we highlight its immediate involvement in our campaign "Lights for Winter," which quickly delivered generators to Kyiv on behalf of Parisians, supporting the city as it faced widespread infrastructure damage caused by massive bombings.Looking ahead, Mayor Anne Hidalgo reaffirmed her oppositio...
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