PARIS, Feb 24, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - France reiterated its support for Ukraine
late Wednesday following a phone call between French leader Emmanuel Macron
and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, according to an Elysee
statement.

  The French president "reiterated his support for Ukraine and his commitment
to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country," according to
the statement.

  The two men "discussed the support that France has already provided and
will continue to provide to Ukraine in economic and financial matters, and
defensive equipment".

  Support for Ukraine would be on the agenda at the emergency summit in
Brussels late Thursday, the statement added.

  The summit follows the EU's adoption of sanctions against Russia for
declaring pro-Moscow separatist regions of Ukraine to be independent and
mandating military forces to go into them.

  Overnight, the Kremlin said the heads of eastern Ukraine's rebel republics
had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin for "help" to "repel aggression"
from the Ukrainian army.

  In the call Macron also praised the composure of Zelensky in the current
situation, the statement added.