Russian Intelligence Agency Says France Wants To Send Its Troops To Ukraine's Battlefield

JAKARTA - The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) said in a press statement, France was still looking for ways to engage directly in the war in Ukraine.

"France is eager to send its troops to Ukraine. The press bureau of the Russian Federation's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) informs that, according to information received by SVR, France is still looking for ways to participate directly in the conflict in Ukraine", reads the press release, according to TASS (2/12).

The SVR quoted French Government officials as allowing the use of private military companies (PMCs) to assist "third countries facing armed conflict".

According to SVR, "ordinary Europeans who lack political knowledge" will also be able to guess which country is meant in the document.

"The air defense group moves and the limited number of F-16 Fighting Falcons available to Ukraine is unable to intercept Russia's air targets. Studying how to operate Mirage Fighter Jets and other machines takes a lot of time and high level expertise," SVR argued.

"This is why Kyiv needs foreign PMC equipped with Western modern weapons, especially France," he explained.

However, SVR warned Paris not to be deceived by thinking that "this will allow it to escape and at the same time avoid responsibility for its troop involvement in conflict."

"The presence of the French PMC in Ukraine, which is simply referred to as a 'reference operator' of the Ministry of Armed Forces in the march, will be considered by Moscow as France's direct involvement in hostilities against Russia," the SVR warned.

"As a result, the French PMC will be a high-priority legal target for the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation," the SVR node.