“We do not have the same approach as the United States,” says the French ambassador to Ukraine

Asked about Franceinfo this Thursday morning regarding the supply to kyiv of antipersonnel mines by the United States, the French ambassador to Ukraine affirmed that France was not “online” with Washington.

“We share with the United States the same concern for protecting Ukraine”said Gaël Veyssière, but “on this point”France does not have “the same approach”. The ambassador recalled that France had “international obligations”as a signatory to the Ottawa Convention signed in 1997 and which prohibits the production, acquisition and use of antipersonnel mines. “It’s not something we encourage”he said.

“Anti-personnel weapons are made to respond to groups of infantrymen who advance on the ground”also recalled Gaël Veyssière affirming that there was a “very strong concern about the Russian push which continues”notably to the city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine. “There is a fear of not being able to stabilize the front”.

Asked to react on Ukraine’s use of British Storm Shadow missiles against Russia on Wednesday, the ambassador recalled that France had already, through Emmanuel Macron last May, authorized Ukraine, “in the context of self-defense”to use the weapons at their disposal, particularly Western ones, against Russian military installations in Russia.

French Scalp missiles

“In Meseberg, the President of the Republic was questioned on the question of strikes in Russia with Western equipment and he said, at the time, that the main principle was self-defense, that Ukraine should be able to use weapons that it had at its disposal to suppress the military threats that weighed on it.explained Gaël Veyssière. “We were kind of the first to say that kind of thing.”he argued.

Asked whether there were contacts with Ukraine on the nature of the military targets that kyiv could target with French Scalp missiles, the ambassador refused to comment. “For the most sensitive weapons, there is an exchange”he only said on the air.