French military presence in Ukraine could be considered a ‘legitimate target’ by Russia, says Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made headlines during his tour of Africa on Tuesday when he declared that any French military instructors in Ukraine would be considered a “legitimate target” for Russian armed forces.

Speaking at a joint news conference with the Republic of Congo’s foreign minister, Lavrov’s comments added fuel to the already tense situation in Ukraine. French instructors were reportedly in Ukrainian territory to train Kyiv’s troops, a move that Lavrov strongly opposed.

“Regardless of their status, military officials or mercenaries represent a legitimate target for our armed forces,” Lavrov stated, raising concerns about the presence of foreign troops in Ukraine.

The situation was further complicated by leaked documents in April 2023, which suggested the presence of special forces from Western countries in Ukraine, including the UK, US, Baltic States, and France. The exact nature of their mission and the level of their involvement remained unclear.

Lavrov’s visit to Africa, his second stop on the tour, comes as Russia faces international condemnation for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. During his trip, Lavrov also dismissed the upcoming Ukraine peace and security conference scheduled to take place in Switzerland in July.

According to Lavrov, the conference holds no significance and is merely an attempt to preserve an “anti-Russian bloc” that is crumbling. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, currently in Asia to garner support for the conference, has not extended an invitation to Russia.

As tensions continue to escalate in Ukraine, Lavrov’s remarks have only added to the growing concerns about the conflict and the involvement of foreign powers in the region.