JAKARTA - Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in a briefing on Wednesday that reports about France preparing to send troops to Ukraine have been confirmed.
"Confirmation has come in of reports that France is preparing to send its troops to Ukraine. I would like to point out that we announced these reports on April 3. Although Paris is trying to hide the involvement of its professional army in the conflict, the Kyiv regime is deliberately promoting these developments in order to once again claim broad international support and strengthen the failed mobilization campaign," she explained, as reported by TASS on May 31.
Zakharova further pointed to a document signed by Alexander Syrsky, the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces, which gives French instructors the legal right to visit Ukrainian army training centers.
"Now, the Elysee Palace should comment on this information instead of hiding behind vague wording," the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman stressed.
"Technically, the so-called instructors are needed to direct the long-range SCALP missiles, which are difficult to use, to the target," she added.
Separately, three diplomatic sources said France would soon send military trainers to Ukraine despite concerns from some allies and criticism from Russia, a plan that could be announced next week during a visit by Ukraine’s president.
Diplomats said Paris hopes to form and lead a coalition of countries offering such assistance to Kyiv’s war effort, although some of its European Union partners worry it could make direct conflict with Russia more likely.
France will initially send a small number of personnel to assess the modalities of the mission before sending several hundred trainers, two diplomats said, citing Reuters.
The training will focus on mine clearance, maintaining operational equipment and technical expertise for warplanes provided by the West, they said. Paris will also finance, arm and train a Ukrainian motorized brigade.
“The arrangements are very advanced and we can expect something next week,” one of the sources said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is due to arrive in France on June 6, the 80th anniversary of D-Day, when Allied troops landed in Normandy to drive out Nazi German forces during World War Two. He will hold talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris the following day.
On Monday, Ukraine's top commander said he had signed a document allowing French military instructors to visit Ukrainian training centers soon.
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Meanwhile, Ukraine's Defense Ministry, in a "clarification", said Kyiv had expressed interest in a project involving the reception of foreign instructors since February.
On the other hand, Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the regular French military presence in Ukraine as a step towards a global conflict.
So far, France has trained about 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, but it has done so within the European Union. The new mission will not be under the auspices of the EU or NATO, diplomats said.
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