Ukraine – France condemns Russian strikes against Ukraine (July 18, 2023)

France utterly condemns the latest round of Russian missile and drone strikes against Ukraine, particularly against the port of Odesa. This attack occurred a few hours after Russia’s announcement that it was suspending its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, thereby jeopardizing international food security.

Russia has once again flagrantly violated international humanitarian law, as these Russian strikes deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure.

As Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna has repeatedly emphasized, these unacceptable acts are war crimes and cannot go unpunished.

In close coordination with its partners, France will continue to provide Ukraine with the assistance it needs to ensure its legitimate defense. It will also maintain its support for the Ukrainian courts and the International Criminal Court in their effort to combat impunity for the crimes committed by Russia. France has also stepped up its food aid to the countries most vulnerable to food insecurity as a result of the Russian aggression.

Libya – Security meeting on July 17 and 18 in Paris

In line with its support for dialogue between Libyan security actors and the efforts of the Security Working Group co-chaired by the UN, on July 17 and 18, France welcomed the Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces of Libya’s western and eastern regions, General Mohamed Al Haddad and General Abdulraziq Al Nadhouri, as well as officers from the Joint Military Commission 5+5, for working meetings focused on the reunification of military institutions and the long-term stabilization of the country, with full respect for Libyan sovereignty.

France maintains its support for the UN and for the security dynamic in which all the Libyan actors are engaged, with the aim of forming joint units to secure Libya’s borders and combat terrorism and destabilizing foreign interference. Upcoming meetings of the security groups co-chaired by the UN will follow up on this effort; the next such meeting will be held in Benghazi on July 25.