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Sending equipment to Kiev West not party to conflict in Ukraine — French foreign ministry

The French foreign ministry spokeswoman referred to the fact that "shipments of hardware and equipment to a self-defending state are covered by Article 51 of the UN Charter and are not considered as engagement in combat action"

PARIS, February 4. /TASS/. Western countries are not at war with Russia, as shipments of hardware to Kiev does not mean involvement in hostilities, French Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Anne-Claire Legendre said on Saturday.

"We are not at war with Russia. NATO is not at war with Russia. None of our European or American partners are at war with Russia," she said in an interview with RTVI.

The French foreign ministry spokeswoman referred to the fact that "shipments of hardware and equipment to a self-defending state are covered by Article 51 of the UN Charter and are not considered as engagement in combat action".

"In other words, we are in no way talking in this case about joint engagement in combat action, whatever the equipment in question is like," Legendre believes, confirming Paris’s plans to send twelve additional Caesar self-propelled howitzers to Kiev.

To date, France has sent 18 Caesar self-propelled howitzers and two batteries of Crotale surface-to-air missile system to Ukraine. In December, French President Emmanuel Macron said that the republic planned to provide Kiev with a next shipment of weapons and ammunition in early 2023. In addition, on January 30, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen confirmed sending 19 Caesar howitzers to Ukraine.

Inauguration of the Russian President

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UAE president congratulates Putin on inauguration

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Israeli tanks enter Rafah in south Gaza — newspaper

IDF said it was delivering targeted strikes on Hamas facilities in the eastern part of Rafah

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NBC reports US soldier allegedly detained in Russia on suspicion of theft

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Putin formally takes office as Russian president for six-year term

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New Russian combat equipment in 2024

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The SVR pointed out that the US does not care "who heads Ukraine"

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Infrastructural facility damaged after Ukrainian drone attack — official

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FSB declassifies Hitler aide’s testimony how Red Army rescued Allies in Ardennes in 1945

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