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Military operation in Ukraine

France not to cross red line of complicity in Ukrainian conflict — Foreign Minister

Paris will continue to provide aid to Kiev, Stephane Sejourne added

PARIS, March 6. /TASS/. Paris will not cross the line of complicity in the Ukrainian conflict, French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said on French TV.

"We have never crossed the line of complicity in the Ukrainian conflict, and we will not cross it," he said, according to LCI.

According to Sejourne, "France’s message to Russia is perfectly clear: Paris will continue to provide aid to Kiev."

Previously, French President Emmanuel Macron said, speaking before compatriots in Prague, called on the European allies "not to show cowardice" in regards to the Ukrainian conflict. On February 26, Macron said that, during the meeting in Paris, where representatives of about 20 Western states discussed further support for Ukraine, the participants discussed an option to send ground troops to Ukraine. According to Macron, the participants were unable to reach a consensus on this issue, but such scenario cannot be ruled out in the future.

Following the conference, representatives of the majority of participating states said that they have no plans to send ground forces to Ukraine and oppose their involvement in hostilities against Russia. On February 27, Sejourne specified that the presence of Western troops in Ukraine might be necessary for provision of certain type of aid, including demining and training of Ukrainian troops, but it does not imply their direct participation in the conflict.

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