Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday he travelled to the front line in the Donetsk region to discuss the military and humanitarian situation with senior commanders.
The visit came days after Zelensky replaced the commander of Ukraine’s Joint Armed Forces following criticism as Kyiv has been struggling for months to hold back the onslaught of Russian troops on the eastern part of the frontline. Zelensky said from the city of Pokrovsk:
I started the day in the Donetsk region, together with our soldiers, together with Commander-in-chief (Oleksandr) Syrskyi and the new Commander of the Joint Forces, General (Andriy) Hnatov.
He wrote on X:
I visited the Donetsk region together with our warriors, Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi, and the new Commander of the Joint Forces, General Hnatov. Today, I officially introduced him to all those responsible for defense in the Donetsk region.
He added that the newly-appointed Andriy Hnatov was “a young man, but his knowledge of the frontline and experience are exactly what we need”.
The Ukrainian president appointed Hnatov after the popular military commander accused his predecessor Yuriy Sodol of incompetence.
Zelensky also spoke about helping affected communities in Donetsk Region, which has taken the brunt of the fighting in recent months.
He made a rare lunge at government officials, saying they “should be there and in other places near the front – in difficult communities where people need immediate solutions.” He also added:
I was surprised that some relevant government officials had not been here for six months or more. I will draw appropriate conclusions about them.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said that he was ready to continue dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He said he admits to discussing key issues with the Russian leader.
Mr. Macron said on the Generation Do It Yourself podcast:
I believe in the power of dialogue, and I would continue dialogue with Vladimir Putin. In the last few months there has not been one, but I do not rule it out on one topic or another, including on the issue of nuclear power plants or something else.
In the same interview, the French president said that the French armed forces would not take part in hostilities in Ukraine in the near future. He understands the anxiety of those who fear that the conflict will spill over into French territory.
