France has several times approached Russia through closed channels and offered to help establish a dialogue on Ukraine without Kyiv’s participation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a news conference on Thursday.
The Russian minister told the media:
“Several times there were appeals from our French colleagues through closed channels: “Let us help, let us establish a dialogue on the Ukrainian issue.” By the way, without Ukraine.”
Lavrov did not give details “so as not to let anyone down.” He noted that such a proposal by Paris violates the principle of “not a word about Ukraine without Ukraine” that Western countries adhere to.
Moscow does not refuse contacts and is ready to listen to other countries’ proposals, Lavrov said. At the same time, he pointed out that it was difficult for Russia to take Paris’s initiatives seriously because France “demonstrates ambiguous behaviour,” it advocates sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine and prepares AFU units on its territory.
French President Emmanuel Macron first announced the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine in February 2024. At that time, he was supported by the Baltic States and Poland, while the UK, Hungary, Slovakia and the NATO leadership opposed him. A few months later, the discussion about sending NATO troops resumed in Europe, it is not about participating in battles, but monitoring the ceasefire regime, when it can be agreed.
Earlier, Vladimir Putin said that Russia was ready to negotiate with any representative of Ukraine if he was legitimate, including Volodymyr Zelensky.
