Ukraine
Secure video call to be held following the conference in support of Ukraine (March 7, 2024)

A secure video call with the foreign and defense ministers of 28 countries, including Ukraine, in addition to EU and NATO representatives, will be held on March 7 at 4:00 pm CET. This video call will provide the opportunity to follow up on the initiatives discussed at the conference in support of Ukraine, which was attended by heads of state and government in Paris on February 26.

Ukraine
France condemns the Russian attack on Odesa (March 7, 2024)

France condemns in the strongest possible terms the Russian missile strikes on the city of Odesa, Ukraine, which took place while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis were visiting and left five people dead. Already, a drone attack on a residential building in Odesa on Saturday left 12 people dead, including five children, and injured at least 20 others.

These despicable attacks constitute a new violation of international law by Russia, which is pursuing its escalation and its strategy of intimidating Ukraine and the country’s supporters.

As Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Stéphane Séjourné stated, Russia must be defeated in Ukraine. Therefore, France will continue working in close coordination with its partners to provide Ukraine with the support it needs to defend itself. That was the motivation behind the February 26th conference held on President Macron’s initiative, which aimed to enable us to better coordinate our efforts for Ukraine and to take faster and greater action. France will continue to provide Ukraine with bilateral military assistance, in accordance with the commitments made in the Agreement on security cooperation that was signed by President Macron and President Zelenskyy on February 16.

Red Sea
Lethal attack by the Houthis on the commercial vessel True Confidence (March 6, 2024)

France strongly condemns the lethal attack by the Houthis on the commercial vessel True Confidence in the Gulf of Aden on March 6, 2024, which killed several crew members and wounded a number of others. Houthi attacks on international maritime traffic reached a new level yesterday. They must cease.

France offers its condolences to the loved ones of the Houthis’ victims.

Several days ago, the Houthis also claimed responsibility for the sinking of the Rubymar, which poses a very serious risk of environmental disaster.

As part of the EU Operation ASPIDES, France will continue to work to guarantee maritime security and freedom of navigation, in accordance with international law.

Sudan
Decision by the Sudanese authorities to approve cross-border humanitarian operations from Tina (March 7, 2024)

France commends the Sudanese authorities on their decision announced on March 6, 2024, to approve cross-border humanitarian operations to be carried out from Chad to Darfur through the city of Tina. France calls on the Sudanese authorities to implement any measures needed to apply this decision on the ground and to remove the obstacles to the humanitarian organizations’ work.

France reiterates its calls to the parties to the conflict to ensure free, safe, and unhindered access to humanitarian aid throughout all of Sudan so that all the necessary aid reaches those who need it, in keeping with the commitments they undertook in Jeddah on May 11 and November 4, 2023. France condemns the attacks carried out on humanitarian personnel and infrastructure and reminds the parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law.

France, Germany, and the EU will be holding an international humanitarian conference for Sudan and its neighboring countries in Paris on April 15, 2024, one year after the hostilities began. This conference will bring together Sudan’s primary partners and neighboring countries, as well as the international and humanitarian organizations operating in Sudan. It aims to provide the necessary funding for humanitarian aid to Sudan and to issue a call to the parties to the conflict to provide free, safe, unhindered access to humanitarian aid throughout Sudan.

France will not waver in its efforts to ensure that the crisis in Sudan is not forgotten.