Ukraine
Conference on Nuclear Security and Safety in Ukraine (Paris, October 17, 2024)

France is hosting a ministerial-level conference on nuclear security and safety in Ukraine; it will be held in Paris on October 17. Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot will open the conference.

This conference, which was jointly organized with Ukraine, falls within the framework of the peace plan proposed by President Zelenskyy and reflects one of the commitments that France made at the Summit on Peace in Ukraine held on June 15-16 in Bürgenstock. It must contribute to preparations for a second peace summit, to which France remains fully committed, alongside Ukraine.

All of the 176 States and organizations invited to the Bürgenstock summit were invited to this conference, aimed at assessing the status of Ukrainian nuclear facilities and addressing issues related to mechanisms to assist Ukraine.

Q&A

On Monday, China carried out military exercises of unusual magnitude dubbed Joint Sword 2024-B, deploying aircraft and ships to encircle Taiwan. That raised the issue of security and increased tensions in the area. What is the French government’s position on China’s increasingly frequent and offensive military maneuvers?

We monitored the military operations carried out by the People’s Republic of China around Taiwan with concern. France reaffirms its commitment to preserving peace and stability in the Strait, which is vital to global security and prosperity, and its opposition to any unilateral changes in the status quo through force or coercion. It is essential to avoid any escalation in the Strait of Taiwan.