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JAKARTA – Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova said Wednesday’s briefing that reports of France preparing to send troops to Ukraine had been confirmed.
“Confirmation came in on reports that France was preparing to send troops to Ukraine. I would like to show that we announced the report on April 3. Although Paris attempted to hide the involvement of its professional army in the conflict, the Kyiv regime deliberately promoted the development to once again claim broad international support and strengthen a failed mobilization campaign,” he explained., reported by TASS May 31.
Furthermore, Zakharova pointed to documents signed by Alexander Syrsky, commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces, who gave French instructors legal rights to visit the Ukrainian army training center.
“Now, the Elysee Palace should comment on this information instead of hiding behind unclear words,” a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry said. “Technically, the so-called instructor is needed to direct the long-range SCALP missile, which is difficult to use, to the target,” he added.
Separately, three diplomatic sources said France would soon send military trainers to Ukraine despite concerns from some allies and criticism from Russia, plans that may announce its decision next week during the visit of the President of Ukraine.
Diplomats say Paris hopes to form and lead a coalition of countries offering such assistance to the Kyiv war efforts, although some of its EU partners fear it could make direct conflict with Russia more likely.
France will initially send a small number of personnel to assess mission modalities before sending several hundred coaches, two diplomats said.
The training will focus on clearing mines, keeping operational equipment and technical expertise for warplanes provided by the West, they said. Paris will also finance, arm and train Ukraine’s motorized brigades.
“The arrangements are very advanced and we can expect something next week,” said one source.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to arrive in France on June 6, just at the time of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day, when Allied forces landed in Normandy to expel Nazi German troops during the Second World War. He will hold talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris the next day.
On Monday, Ukraine’s supreme commander said he had signed documents allowing French military instructors to immediately visit the Ukrainian training center.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, in a “clarification”, said Kyiv had expressed interest in a project involving the acceptance of foreign instructors since February.
On the other hand, Russian President Vladimir Putin described the regular French military presence in Ukraine as a step towards a global conflict.
So far, France has trained about 10,000 Ukrainian troops since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, but was carried out within the EU region. The new mission will not be under the auspices of the EU or NATO, diplomats said.
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