Macron says Ukraine must get help to ensure successful counteroffensive

French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking at a security forum in Bratislava on Wednesday, called on the West to provide Ukraine with “tangible and credible” security guarantees.

That’s according to The Guardian, referring to AFP, Ukrinform reports.

“We need to help Ukraine today with all means to carry out an effective counter-offensive,” the French leader said.

Macron believes that the Ukrainian counteroffensive will provide a chance to build a "lasting peace."

He emphasized that Ukraine "is today protecting Europe," therefore it is in the interests of the West for the nation to have security assurances from NATO.

Macron added that this topic will be the subject of collective negotiations in the coming weeks to "offer tangible and credible security guarantees to Ukraine."

According to the French president, various NATO member states can provide such guarantees for the time being as Ukraine waits to join the alliance.

At the Globsec event, dedicated to regional security, a long process of preparation for the NATO summit, which will be held in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius on July 11 and 12, is taking place.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, U.S. GOP Senator Lindsey Graham said he expects a successful Ukrainian counteroffensive.