MARSEILLE/PARIS: Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeated his call for French companies to stop supporting the Russian economy in an address to a joint meeting of the Senate, the National Assembly of the French Republic and the Council of Paris.

Following his call for Renault, Auchan, Leroy Merlin and other French companies to stop supporting a military machine that kills children and women, “sponsors of rape, robbery and looting by the Russian army”, the Renault Group has announced it is has suspended manufacturing activities in Moscow and is assessing its 67.61 percent stake in Russian automobile manufacturer AvtoVAZ and the impact any decision will have on its 45,000 employees.

Noting it is already complying with international sanctions on Russia, Renault says it expects to record a €2.2 billion charge relating to its intangible assets, property, plant and equipment in the country.

Zelenskyy also announced the creation of https://help.gov.ua/en for anyone to provide or accept humanitarian aid. He said his country had received over 100,000 tons of aid in the last two weeks.

CMA CGM and Geodis are two French logistics organisations to have offered free logistics services, including transport and storage, to aid agencies in Ukraine.

Om March 20 CMA CGM flew 55 tons on an A330-200 freighter from Paris CDG to Warsaw on behalf of its own Foundation and the Crisis and Support Centre of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.

The aircraft delivered 10 oxygen generators for resuscitation units; nine tons of medicine; 31 power generators, nine 42 sq.mt. family tents for the Polish and French Red Cross; eight tons of communication equipment; and over four tons of infant milk.

Geodis is providing transport and storage of goods from France and other EU members to countries that have welcomed over three million Ukrainian refugees.

The company has also launched a fundraising campaign to support the French Red Cross provide people directly affected by the conflict with water, basic necessities, medical supplies, first aid and psychological and social support.

"We want to express our support for the Ukrainian people, who are experiencing the horror of the conflict,” commented Geodis CEO Marie-Christine Lombard. “In addition to financial donations, the entire Geodis Group has decided to contribute to the humanitarian effort by exercising its expertise in organizing transport and storage.

“Our network and our teams, whether at head office or at the local level, are fully dedicated to facilitating the flow of goods linked to international solidarity," she added.

Zelenskyy concluded his speech saying: “All companies must remember once and for all that values are worth more than profit. Especially profit on blood. And we must already think about the future. About how we will live after this war.”