Q&A

Yesterday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia had employed a new, hypersonic, nonnuclear, intermediate-range missile known as the Oreshnik to strike a Ukrainian military site. In this statement, he indicated that the use of Western missiles to strike military facilities in Russia had given the conflict in Ukraine “elements of a global character,” adding that Russia is “entitled to use [its] weapons against the military facilities of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against [Russian] facilities.” How does France perceive these statements by the Russian leader? Does France plan to change its current approach to Russian relations or its policy on the conflict in Ukraine? Do you have any immediate plans to establish contact with Russia at the foreign ministry level?

France deplores Russia’s massive attack on the Dnipro region using the “Oreshnik” ballistic missile, which caused a wide range of damage in civilian areas.

The Russian President’s threats against European countries and NATO members are unacceptable. This confirms Russia’s escalatory stance. There will be a NATO-Ukraine Council meeting starting on Tuesday that will allow the Allies to discuss this matter. In this situation, there is only one aggressor, Russia, and only one victim of aggression, Ukraine.

In light of this, France will continue to provide Ukraine with all the aid it needs to defend itself and to recover its territorial integrity.