On October 19, 2024, the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Jean-Noël Barrot, met with the Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, Mykola Tochytskyi.
During his first visit to Ukraine, the French Minister was accompanied by the Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Armed Forces of the Senate of the French Republic, Cédric Perrin, and the Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the National Assembly of the French Republic, Bruno Fuchs. The meeting was also attended by the Ambassador of France to Ukraine, Gaël Veyssière, and the Ambassador of Ukraine to France, Vadym Omelchenko.
The parties discussed issues of strategic communications, particularly the challenges and threats of the information warfare waged by russia. Special attention was given to cooperation between the two countries aimed at preserving Ukraine’s identity and protecting its cultural heritage, which has been deliberately destroyed by the enemy since 2014.
Since the start of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, France has played a crucial role in preserving and protecting Ukraine’s cultural heritage. Ukraine is grateful to the head of the French state, parliamentarians, and the French people for supporting Ukrainians in their fight for European values and freedom.
Mykola Tochytskyi noted that Ukraine currently has a proactive approach to strategic communications. “We must not only counter disinformation but also shape strategic narratives. Together, we need to create an atmosphere of unity to stand against russia’s lies globally,” he emphasized.
Jean-Noël Barrot stressed that “France will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes”.
Cooperation between Ukraine and France in the field of strategic communications is an important part of implementing Ukraine’s Victory Plan, announced this week by the President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Verkhovna Rada. Strengthening information security, countering disinformation, and shaping strategic narratives are critical elements for achieving success on the international stage and securing support for Ukraine in its fight for freedom.
As the President Zelenskyy stated: “The Victory Plan is a path to strengthening Ukraine. It is this kind of strengthening that is needed not only to defend our positions but also to pave the way for the second Peace Summit, which will bring a just conclusion to this war for Ukraine”.
During his visit to Kyiv, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot remarked: “A russian victory would be a triumph of the law of the strongest and would cause chaos in the international order. That is why our ties must enable us to make progress on President Zelenskyy’s Victory Plan and unite as many countries as possible around it”.
Barrot also pledged to support the Victory Plan of the President of Ukraine, emphasizing that he would work with Ukrainian officials to garner support for this proposal from other countries.
Thus, strengthening strategic communications between Ukraine and France not only aids in countering russian propaganda but also serves as a key element in the context of Ukraine’s overall victory, as outlined in the Victory Plan.
