Ukraine – France condemns the latest round of Russian strikes in Ukraine (August 17, 2023)

France utterly condemns the Russian airstrikes, which continue to target the entire country of Ukraine on a daily basis. Once again, these strikes deliberately targeted civilians, showing no regard for international humanitarian law. Yesterday, in the region of Kherson, shelling targeted residential buildings, as well as educational and medical infrastructure, leaving one person dead and at least seven others injured.

France will continue to support Ukraine, as well as the Ukrainian and international courts as long as is necessary so that these crimes do not go unpunished. France will not stop denouncing Russia’s actions and condemning its ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine.

Q&A

Yesterday, the U.S. Acting Deputy Secretary of State, Victoria Nuland, traveled to Niamey, and a new U.S. ambassador is taking office. Are there divergences between the French and American positions on the issue of restoring President Bazoum to power by any legal means? If the U.S. is inclined to keep its military bases there in any event, is that the French approach as well?

We are working in close coordination with our American partners, with whom we share the goal of seeing a return to constitutional and democratic order in Niger.

Regarding the appointment of an ambassador to Niger, we refer you to the U.S. authorities.

As regards our military presence in Niger, it is founded on the agreements that were signed with the country’s legitimate authorities, who are the only ones that we recognize and who have allowed the country to achieve positive results in the fight against armed terrorist groups.

Tokyo and Canberra recently signed military agreements that bring them much closer together. What is France’s opinion on this new development in the Indo-Pacific?

On his tour of the Pacific, President Macron recalled that France supports a free, open, inclusive, safe, and peaceful Indo-Pacific region. France works together with its partners in the region and throughout the world to establish order in the region in a way that is stable, balanced, and respects States’ sovereignty and territorial integrity. Our cooperation with countries in the area aims to safeguard our economic interests and security; ensure freedom of navigation and equal access to global public goods; build partnerships for prosperity and viability in the region; and defend the international rule of law.

Australia and Japan are two of France’s key partners with whom we maintain regular dialogue and close cooperation.