Interviewed by the BBC, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot affirmed that France was ruling out “no option” regarding its support for Ukraine against Russia.
“We will support Ukraine as intensely and as long as necessary.” The French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, reaffirmed Paris' support for kyiv against Moscow in an interview with the BBC and published this Saturday, November 23. After a week of significant escalation in the conflict, the head of French diplomacy said Western allies should “not set and express red lines” regarding support for Ukraine.
Jean-Noël Barrot said kyiv could fire long-range French missiles at Russia “with the logic of self-defense.” However, he did not confirm whether this type of missile had already been used, unlike the American and British missiles. American President Joe Biden has in fact lifted his veto on these shots, arguing in particular for the mobilization, alongside Russian troops, of North Korean soldiers.
“The principle has been laid down… Our messages to President Zelensky have been well received,” declared Jean-Noël Barrot.
“It’s our safety that is at stake.”
Concerning sending French troops into combat, the speech is the same: Paris is ruling out “no option”.
“We will support Ukraine as intensely and as long as necessary. Why? Because it is our security that is at stake,” he said.
Before adding: “Every time the Russian army advances by a square kilometer, the threat moves closer to Europe by a square kilometer.”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs also said he was “open to an invitation” for Ukraine to join NATO, as Voloydmyr Zelensky wishes.
“We are open to an invitation, and therefore in our discussions with our friends and allies, as well as with the friends and allies of Ukraine, we are working to bring them closer to our positions,” he explained.
Jean-Noël Barrot also believes that Western countries should increase their defense spending. “Of course we will have to spend more if we want to do more, and I think we have to face these new challenges,” he said.
Putin says the conflict has taken on a “global character”
The tone has risen between Ukraine and Russia after the use of Western missiles by kyiv on Russian territory in recent days. But also because of the strike with a hypersonic ballistic missile by Moscow on the city of Dnipro, a first in this war.
Ukraine has also asked its Western allies for the latest generation of air defense systems to protect itself against this new intermediate-range Orechnik missile (up to 5,500 km). A heavy machine with a strategic vocation that Vladimir Putin ordered to be mass produced.
The master of the Kremlin placed the responsibility for the escalation on the Westerners on Thursday evening in a speech to the nation. He said the war in Ukraine had taken on a “global character” and threatened to strike countries supplying weapons to kyiv. NATO and Ukraine are due to meet in Brussels on Tuesday to discuss the situation, with kyiv saying it is waiting for “concrete” decisions from its allies.
