“We assume a certain strategic ambiguity”, maintains the head of French diplomacy

“We assume a certain strategic ambiguity” vis-à-vis Russia, declared Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sunday November 24. “We don’t set a red line in advance and we don’t say what we do or what we don’t do”assured the head of French diplomacy in the program “Dimanche en politique” on France 3.

Asked about the delivery of missiles to Ukraine by France, the minister said that “the line has not changed”. Jean-Noël Barrot thus recalled that Emmanuel Macron had “expressed very clearly”, “last May”the fact that “Ukraine must be able to neutralize military targets in Russia, when these targets allow Russia to attack Ukrainians”, “even with missiles” long range. This relates to a “principle of self-defense, recognized by international law”he insisted.

“Let’s not be intimidated” by Vladimir Putin, also declared Jean-Noël Barrot. The Russian autocrat “must hold one’s rank” et “must rise to the level of its responsibilities as a permanent member country of the United Nations Security Council, as a country with nuclear weapons.” The resident of the Kremlin, he added, has behaved, for two and a half years, “like a destabilizing agent” of the international order.

Jean-Noël Barrot also welcomed the training of 2,300 Ukrainian soldiers in France, who will soon join the combat fields: “This is the first time we have formed a full brigade of foreign soldiers since World War II.” The French minister finally declared that Mirage fighter jets will fly to Ukraine in “a few weeks”, “in accordance with commitments” taken by Emmanuel Macron last June.