French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has stated that there are no ‘red lines’ in Ukraine support, meaning France is willing to take a more aggressive stance against Russia. This comes after the US and UK fired long-range missiles into Russia for the first time, with Russia responding by firing a new type of missile.
Background
In recent days, there have been significant escalations in Ukraine, with the US and UK firing long-range missiles into Russia for the first time. Russia has responded by firing a new type of missile and Vladimir Putin has suggested the possibility of global war.
French Foreign Minister’s Comments
Implications
This means that France is willing to take a more aggressive stance against Russia in support of Ukraine. The French Foreign Minister’s comments are significant, coming days after US and UK long-range missiles were used in this way for the first time.
Related Topics
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Europe
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War in Ukraine
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Russia
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Ukraine
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Background
Barrot stated that Western allies should not put any limits on support for Ukraine against Russia and “not set and express red lines.” He also said that the principle of supporting Ukraine with long-range missiles has been set, and that President Zelensky’s messages have been well-received.
Government Sources Emphasize Long-term Commitments
Government sources emphasize long-term commitments the UK has already made, particularly supporting Ukraine with drones. Intelligence shows that Ukraine used drones to hit four Russian ammunition depots, successfully destroying a large amount of ammunition during the conflict.
What’s Different Now?
According to one former minister, Putin’s comments are designed to catch the ear of the president-elect. “Russia wants to help Trump with reasons to switch off the help.” The hope is to put Ukraine in the best possible position for any negotiation, several sources said, and an insider advising the government told me that might involve bigging up Trump’s own negotiation ability.
Don’t Panic
The message from multiple sources is: don’t panic. One source stated, “The whole way through he has made threats – we have to not let it deter us.”
