Macron And Duda Pledge Continued Support To Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish President Andrzej Duda have both promised Kyiv the continued support of their countries at a summit of the Crimea platform today.

• Duda: "Crimea was, remains and will be a part of Ukraine just like Gdansk is a part of Poland, Nice is a part of France, Cologne is a part of Germany, and Rotterdam is a part of the Netherlands."
• Duda has met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky five times since the war began, including three trips to Ukraine an Poland has emerged as a key source of military aid.
• Macron said in a pre-recorded message to the forum that France, the EU, and allies are ready to back Ukraine "over the long term", and called for "no weakness, no spirit of compromise" towards Russia.
• EU Council President Charles Michel said he dreams of visiting Ukraine's Crimea region with President Zelenskyy and said, "your future lies within the European Union, and your bravery is an example for all of us."
• Earlier today, remarks from Matteo Salvini of Italy's Lega party sparked concerns over Italy's commitment to supporting Ukraine.
• Salvini said: "I fear that sanctions against Russia are fueling the war in Ukraine. We should ask ourselves, EU included, if they work. Otherwise, we might go on like this for 10 years". Alarm bells ringing from Italy to the West..."