ANDThe Kremlin accused France this Friday of being “willing” to “directly participate in the conflict” in Ukraine after French President Emmanuel Macron announced “new cooperation” with kyiv, supplying fighter aircraft and with military training programs.
(Read here: The United States clarifies that it allows Ukraine to use weapons on Russian territory, but only near the border)
On Thursday evening, Macron announced “new cooperation” with kyiv, supplying fighters Mirage-2000 and training Ukrainian pilots in France starting this summer, with the goal of having them ready by the end of the year.
He also indicated that France had proposed training 4,500 soldiers on Ukrainian territory.
Macron shows absolute support for the Ukrainian regime and declares that the French Republic is willing to participate directly in the military conflict
However, Peskov considered that Macron’s statements were “extremely provocative” and that they “increase tensions on the continent and do not contribute anything positive.”
Tensions between France and Russia have been increasing since Macron mentioned the possibility of sending French instructors to Ukraine without ruling out the option of even deploying the military.
On the other hand, Russian prosecutors asked this Friday that a French citizen arrested in Moscow, accused of collecting information on Russia’s military activities and of not having registered as a “foreign agent”, be imprisoned for the duration of his trial, he told the AFP his lawyer, Alexei Sinitsin.
The Moscow branch of the Russian Investigative Committee indicated that a judge will decide this Friday on the “preventive measures” that should be taken regarding the detainee, Laurent Vinatier, an employee of an NGO based in Switzerland specialized in conflict mediation.
Macron said in a televised interview Thursday that his government “continues to [el caso] closely” and that it will provide “consular protection” to the arrested person, who “in no way worked for France.”
NATO chief says there is “no immediate military threat” against alliance
Last week, the Kremlin accused the countries of the Atlantic Alliance of launching “a new cycle of escalation of tensions,” after US President Joe Biden lifted restrictions on Ukraine to use weapons supplied by Washington to attack Russian territory.
The United States limited this authorization to operations aimed at the defense of Kharkiv.a region in northeastern Ukraine near the border between the two countries that has been the target of a Russian offensive since May.
When asked about the possibility of Russia testing the commitment of NATO countries to defend one of its members in the event of an attack – established in its article 5 -, Stoltenberg responded: “There is no immediate military threat against any NATO country.”
French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday that he will supply Ukraine with Mirage-2000 fighters and the Kremlin accused France on Friday of being “willing” to “directly participate in the conflict” in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated this Friday, during a visit to France, his call to “do more” to help his country counter the Russian offensive that began in February 2022.
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