Russia's defense minister recently cautioned France about the potential deployment of troops to Ukraine during a rare phone call. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that if France proceeds with sending a military contingent to Ukraine, it could lead to problems for France. This warning came following French President Emmanuel Macron's remarks in February suggesting the possibility of Western troops being sent to Ukraine.
The call between the Russian and French defense ministers marked their first contact since October 2022. During the conversation, the Russian defense minister expressed Moscow's willingness to engage in dialogue on Ukraine and emphasized the importance of Russia's involvement in peace talks. He mentioned a draft document that was discussed during Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul in March 2022, which proposed Ukraine's neutrality and abandonment of its NATO aspirations.
Despite the discussions in Istanbul, no final agreement was reached, and the talks quickly fell apart. The call also touched upon the tragic attack on a Moscow concert hall in March that claimed 145 lives, the deadliest assault on Russian soil in decades. Russian officials have attempted to link Ukraine and the West to the attack, alleging Ukrainian involvement despite denials from Kyiv and a claim of responsibility by an Islamic State affiliate.
During the call, the French defense minister offered condolences for the concert hall attack but tried to convince his Russian counterpart that Ukraine and its Western allies were not connected to the incident. However, the Russian defense minister insisted that Moscow had information implicating Ukraine in organizing the attack, alleging that the Kyiv regime acts with the approval of Western powers.
As tensions persist between Russia and Ukraine, the dialogue between Moscow and Paris underscores the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in the region.
