French defence minister Lecornu holds uncommon cellphone talks with Russia’s Shoigu | EUROtoday

Issued on: 03/04/2024 – 19:33

1 min

French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu informed Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu that France had at all times been able to face down “terrorism” and was ready for “increased exchanges with the aim of fighting this threat as effectively as possible,” a French defence ministry assertion mentioned.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged that “radical Islamists” performed the bloody assault on the live performance venue in Moscow that left no less than 144 individuals useless, however urged they have been linked to Ukraine.

Lecornu mentioned that France had no info to ascertain a hyperlink to Ukraine, calling on Moscow “to stop all instrumentalisation” of the assault, the defence ministry mentioned.

“The minister also unreservedly condemned the war of aggression that Russia has launched in Ukraine,” the assertion mentioned.

“France will continue to support Ukraine as long and as intensely as necessary in its fight for freedom and sovereignty, in order to bring peace and security to the European continent,” the assertion added.

French President Emmanuel Macron mentioned in March Paris had supplied Russian safety providers “increased cooperation” — including that there could be contact on a “technical and ministerial level” relatively than direct talks with Putin.

The French chief tried in a sequence of cellphone calls in 2022 to warn Putin in opposition to invading Ukraine and travelled to Moscow early that 12 months.

He saved up cellphone contact with Putin even after the invasion started however talks have now ceased, with the final cellphone name between the presidents courting again to September 2022.

Macron has within the final months additional toughened his line in opposition to Russia, refusing to rule out placing troops on the bottom in Ukraine.

Lecornu and Shoigu final held cellphone talks in October 2022.

(AFP)