Russian Minister cautions French counterpart against deploying troops to Ukraine | Global News

In a rare phone call on Wednesday, Russia’s defence minister Sergei Shoigu warned his French counterpart against deploying troops to Ukraine, stating that it would create problems for France itself. The call, the first contact between Russian and French defence ministers since October 2022, followed French President Emmanuel Macron’s comments in February about the possibility of Western troops being sent to Ukraine.

Shoigu emphasized Moscow’s readiness for dialogue on Ukraine and highlighted the importance of Russia’s involvement in peace talks. He mentioned a draft document discussed during Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul in March 2022, which proposed that Ukraine abandon its bid to join NATO and remain neutral. However, no final deal was reached, and the talks collapsed soon after.

During the call, French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu offered condolences over the deadly attack on a Moscow concert hall on March 22, which killed 145 people. Despite Kyiv’s denial and an Islamic State affiliate claiming responsibility, Russian officials have tried to link Ukraine and the West to the attack.

Shoigu insisted that Moscow has information about a Ukrainian trace in organizing the terror attack, stating, “The Kyiv regime does nothing without approval of its Western handlers.” He expressed hope that French special services were not involved in the incident.

The tense exchange between the Russian and French defence ministers underscores the ongoing geopolitical tensions surrounding Ukraine and the challenges in finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict.