The request for the meeting had been sent before Russia sent its troops to Ukraine. But Grégory Doucet, the mayor of Lyon, refused to meet the ambassador of the Russian federation, based in Paris, who wanted to discuss regional cooperation issues with him. The elected ecologist said in a letter, echoed by Le Progrèsthat he deemed this request for a meeting “null and void”.
Ready to welcome refugees
The letter is dated March 1. The mayor of Lyon condemns “unreservedly the military aggression against the Republic of Ukraine by the Russian Federation carried out in total violation of the principles governing international law”. And to demand the “immediate and unconditional withdrawal” of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory in order to “resume discussions with the legitimate and democratically elected state” of Ukraine.
Finally, the elected official recalls being ready to welcome “dignifiedly” in Lyon refugees who “must leave their homes”.