Ukraine has announced the signing of paperwork that would permit French instructors to provide training to Kyiv’s soldiers. However, Russia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov, responded by stating that any French military instructors sent to Ukraine would be considered “legitimate targets” for Russian armed forces.
Lavrov made these remarks during a joint news conference with the Republic of the Congo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean Claude Gakosso, on Tuesday.
“As for the French instructors, I think they are already on the Ukrainian territory,” Lavrov said. “Regardless of their status, military officials or mercenaries represent a legitimate target for our armed forces.”
Ukraine’s top commander recently announced the signing of paperwork that would facilitate French military instructors’ access to Ukrainian training centers. However, French President Emmanuel Macron refrained from commenting directly on these reports, stating that he would address France’s support during upcoming events marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day, where he will be joined by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Macron’s office declined to comment on Lavrov’s remarks, and there is no evidence to suggest that French instructors are currently in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Lavrov’s visit to Africa comes amid Russia’s efforts to garner support amid its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Some African countries have shown increasing frustration with traditional Western partners like France and the United States and have turned to Russia for assistance in combating Islamic insurgencies.
Lavrov also dismissed the upcoming Ukraine peace conference scheduled to take place in Switzerland later this month. Russia, which insists on starting discussions based on on-the-ground realities, has not received an invitation to the conference. Currently, Russia occupies approximately 18 percent of Ukrainian territory.
“This conference in Switzerland has no meaning,” Lavrov said. “The only meaning it can have is to try to preserve this anti-Russian bloc which is in the process of crumbling.”
Switzerland has announced that over 80 delegations have confirmed their participation in the upcoming peace conference. However, China, which has strengthened its ties with Moscow, declared last week that it would not attend.
Following his visit to the Republic of the Congo, Lavrov’s next stop was Guinea, where he met with the country’s foreign minister. Late on Tuesday, Lavrov arrived at Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, as confirmed by the country’s authorities on social media. He is scheduled to meet on Wednesday with Captain Ibrahim Traore, who assumed leadership following a military coup in 2022.
Lavrov is also expected to visit Chad on Wednesday afternoon, according to statements from the country’s authorities.
