In rare call, Russian defense minister warns French counterpart against sending troops to Ukraine
Russia cautions France against sending troops to Ukraine and expresses willingness to resolve conflict.
- Bilawal Riaz
- 1 min read
Russia’s Defense Minister cautioned France against sending troops to Ukraine during a rare phone call, implying it could lead to issues for France. Minister Shoigu expressed Moscow’s willingness to participate in talks to resolve the conflict. The call, the first between Russian and French defense ministers since October 2022, followed French President Macron’s statement on the potential deployment of Western forces to Ukraine. Shoigu highlighted the importance of Russian involvement in peace talks, referencing a draft document discussed in March 2022 that proposed Ukraine remain neutral and forgo NATO membership. Additionally, the call included discussions on the recent deadly attack in Moscow, with Russian officials attempting to link Ukraine and the West to the incident despite denials and an Islamic State affiliate claiming responsibility. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that Shoigu suggested Ukrainian involvement in organizing the attack, alleging ties to Western entities.