Russia has denounced France's “ambiguous behavior” regarding the Ukrainian conflict.
Sergei Lavrov in Doha, Qatar, December 7, 2024. (AFP / MAHMUD HAMS)
The head of Russian diplomacy, Sergei Lavrov, affirmed Thursday, December 26 that France has sought “several times” to establish “a dialogue on the Ukrainian question” with Moscow without involving Ukraine, despite the principle put forward by the West not to negotiate without the participation of kyiv.
Western countries, seeking to display a united front in their support for kyiv, have repeatedly said that no decisions can be made on Ukraine behind its back.
“I won't go into details so as not to disappoint anyone, but on several occasions our French colleagues have launched appeals through confidential channels:
'Let us help, let's establish a dialogue on the Ukrainian question'
. Besides, without Ukraine,” Sergei Lavrov said at a press conference.
“Simply a dialogue on the Ukrainian question,
in violation of what the West keeps repeating
: 'Not a word about Ukraine without Ukraine'”, he added. “We did not refuse”, affirmed Sergei Lavrov, saying Russian officials are “ready to listen”.
Sergei Lavrov did not indicate when these supposed contacts took place, nor exactly what subjects they related to. France has so far not reacted to these Russian allegations.
France’s “ambiguous behavior”
The hypothesis of peace negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine, triggered by the Russian assault of February 2022, is increasingly being mentioned less than a month before Donald Trump returns to the White House. The Republican, already president from 2017 to 2021, has repeatedly promised to restore peace in Ukraine “in 24 hours” and called for an “immediate ceasefire” as well as talks. But the vagueness surrounding his plan arouses concern in Ukraine. In difficulty on the front and very dependent on Western aid, it fears being forced into an unfavorable agreement.
Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Western unity at a summit in Brussels. “Only together can the United States and Europe truly stop (Russian President Vladimir) Putin,” he said.
THURSDAY,
Sergei Lavrov denounced France's “ambiguous behavior”
regarding the Ukrainian conflict.
Some European countries, including France, have raised the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine in order to guarantee compliance with a possible ceasefire. This type of declaration “does not encourage us to take seriously what is happening at the initiative of our French colleagues”, believes Sergei Lavrov.
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