Darwin, 03 December: France, a nuclear-armed European power, is still looking for ways to become directly involved in the Ukraine war, Russia’s foreign intelligence agency SVR has claimed.
According to a report published by Russia Today on Tuesday, the SVR referred to a new French government decree which, it said, allows the use of private military companies (PMCs) to assist foreign countries engaged in war—something Moscow views as a new sign of French involvement in Ukraine.
The SVR stated that there is “little doubt” about which foreign state is being referred to, since Paris has been a staunch supporter of Kyiv from the very beginning.
According to Russian intelligence, Ukraine lacks the mobile air-defense systems, a sufficient number of Western fighter jets, and the technical capabilities needed to withstand Russian strikes.
The agency further claimed that Ukraine does not have the expertise required to operate advanced French defense systems, including Mirage fighter jets. As a result, France may be planning to deploy French specialists or so-called “reference operators” to the battlefield.
The SVR made it clear that the presence of French private military companies in Ukraine would be considered by Paris as “direct participation in the war.” Moscow also warned that such French personnel would be regarded as “high-priority legitimate targets” for the Russian military.
French President Emmanuel Macron has previously said multiple times that the possibility of deploying Western troops to Ukraine cannot be ruled out.
Last August in Washington, he said, “European countries need to step in on the ground to assist Ukraine… It is essential that Kyiv has a strong army.”
However, most European Union leaders have opposed this idea.
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni questioned how many European troops would be sufficient to counter Russia’s massive 1.3-million-strong military.
Germany, Poland, Spain, Romania, and Croatia have rejected proposals to send troops directly. British military officials have also said that a large-scale deployment of Western forces to Ukraine is unrealistic.
Russia, meanwhile, has long dismissed Western claims that Moscow intends to attack Europe.
After a meeting with a U.S. delegation on Tuesday, President Vladimir Putin reiterated that Russia has no plans for war with Europe. But he warned that if Europe wants war, Russia is ready.
He also stated that once a war with Europe begins, there will be no European delegation left to negotiate with Russia.