PARIS: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky travels to Berlin and Paris on Friday for talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and to sign a security agreement with Emmanuel Macron, Kyiv said.
Zelensky is traveling to Germany and France as Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine enters a third year. Kyiv’s troops face an increasingly difficult situation on the eastern frontlines because of ammunition shortages and fresh Russian attacks.
The French presidency said Macron and Zelensky planned to sign a security agreement at the Elysee Palace on Friday, but did not provide any details.
“This agreement follows commitments made within the G7 format on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Vilnius in July 2023,” Macron’s office said on Thursday.
At the time, NATO leaders did not set a timetable for Ukraine to join the bloc, but the G7 countries pledged to provide Ukraine with long-term security support.
Berlin did not release any details, but Germany is also negotiating a security agreement with Kyiv.
The United Kingdom and Ukraine signed a bilateral security agreement in January, and Kyiv is in talks with other countries.
Such security deals may include the provision of modern military equipment and the training of Ukrainian soldiers.
Zelensky’s office also said the Ukrainian leader would address the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, where he will also hold talks with US Vice President Kamala Harris.
Zelensky was also set to hold meetings with the leaders of the Czech Republic, Denmark, and the Netherlands.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, France has been one of Kyiv’s top supporters.
Macron said in January that he planned to visit Ukraine in February, but his team did not provide further details.
Macron has pushed France’s defense industry to switch to “war economy” mode and ramp up production.
In January, the French president called on European countries to prepare to back Ukraine in case Washington decided to pull the plug on aid.
Macron, Zelensky to sign security deal in Paris Friday
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Macron, Zelensky to sign security deal in Paris Friday
- Zelensky is traveling to Germany and France as Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine enters a third year
- “This agreement follows commitments made within the G7 format on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Vilnius in July 2023,” Macron’s office said
Venezuelan activist Javier Tarazona released from prison as US diplomat assumes post
- Human rights activist Javier Tarazona was arrested in July 2021
- He was released shortly after the arrival in Caracas of US charge d’affaires
CARACAS: Venezuelan human rights activist Javier Tarazona, an ally of opposition leader María Corina Machado, was released from prison after the government promised to free political prisoners in an amnesty bill, rights organizations and family members said Sunday.
Tarazona, the director of the Venezuelan nonprofit human rights group FundaRedes, was arrested in July 2021, after reporting to authorities that he had been harassed by national intelligence officials. Two other activists of the group were also detained at the time.
Venezuela’s Foro Penal, a rights group that monitors the situations of political prisoners in the country, said Sunday that 317 people jailed for political reasons had been released as of noon local time Sunday, and 700 others were still waiting to be freed.
“After 1675 days, four years and seven months, this wishful day has arrived. My brother Javier Tarazona is free,” José Rafael Tarazona Sánchez wrote on X. “Freedom for one is hope for all.”
Tarazona was released shortly after the arrival in Caracas of US Charge d’Affaires Laura Dogu, who will reopen the American diplomatic mission after seven years of severed ties. It comes after US President Donald Trump ordered a military action that removed the South American country’s former President Nicolás Maduro from office and brought him to trial in the US
Dogu, who was previously ambassador in Nicaragua and Honduras, arrived in Venezuela one day after the country’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, announced an amnesty bill to release political prisoners. That move was one of the key demands of the Venezuelan opposition.
Venezuela’s government had accused Tarazona of terrorism, betraying the nation and hate speech, all frequent accusations it makes against real or potential opposition members. Tarazona was vocal against illegal armed groups on the country’s border with Colombia and their alleged connection to high-ranked members of the Maduro administration.
Amnesty International reported that Tarazona’s health has deteriorated due to lack of medical attention during his time in prison.
“All of Venezuela admires you and respects your bravery and your commitment,” Machado said on X. “You, better than anyone, know that there will be justice in Venezuela. Freedom for all political prisoners.”
Venezuela’s government denies it jails members of the opposition and accuses them of conspiring to bring it down.
