Ukraine – France condemns the latest round of Russian strikes against Ukraine (Aug. 10, 2023)

France utterly condemns yesterday’s Russian airstrikes against the southern Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhia. These latest strikes killed at least two civilians and injured a dozen others.

These attacks once again targeted a residential neighborhood and civilian infrastructure, illustrating Russia’s contempt for all principles of international humanitarian law, which it flagrantly continues to violate.

As Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna has repeatedly emphasized, such acts are war crimes and cannot go unpunished. France is committed and will remain committed to bolstering its military support for Ukraine, in particular by working closely with its partners to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses. Lastly, France maintains its full support for Ukrainian and international courts in an effort to combat impunity for the crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine.

Ecuador – Assassination of Fernando Villavicencio (Aug. 10, 2023)

The assassination of Fernando Villavicencio in Ecuador on August 9 was a barbaric act and an attack on democracy, which we condemn in the strongest possible terms.

A former legislator and a journalist who was known for his investigative reporting on corruption, Mr. Villavicencio was a candidate in the Ecuadorian presidential elections slated for August 20.

We offer our condolences to Mr. Villavicencio’s loved ones.