Ukraine said paperwork had been signed that would allow French instructors to train Kiev’s soldiers.
Any French military instructors sent to Ukraine would be a “legitimate target” for the Russian military, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, after Ukrainian officials revealed they were seeking training assistance for their troops in France.
Lavrov made the remarks at a joint press conference on Tuesday with Republic of Congo Foreign Minister Jean Claude Gakosso.
“As for the French instructors, I think they are already on Ukrainian territory,” Lavrov said. “Regardless of their status, military officers or mercenaries represent a legitimate target for our armed forces.”
Ukraine’s top commander said last week that he had signed paperwork that would soon allow French military instructors access to Ukrainian training centers.
Afterwards, French President Emmanuel Macron said he would not comment on “rumors or decisions that could be taken” and that he would elaborate on France’s support during events later this week to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, where he will be accompanied by leaders. including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Macron’s office said on Tuesday it would not comment on Lavrov’s comments. There is no evidence that French instructors are in Ukraine.
Lavrov has visited Africa several times in recent years as Russia seeks to bolster support amid Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Several African countries in recent years have expressed growing frustration with their traditional Western partners such as France and the United States, and some have turned to Russia for help fighting Islamist insurgencies.
Lavrov also on Tuesday rejected the Ukraine peace conference, which will take place later this month in Switzerland. Russia, which insists that any discussion needs to start with “realities” on the ground, was not invited. It currently occupies around 18% of Ukrainian territory.
“This conference in Switzerland has no meaning,” Lavrov said. “The only meaning it can have is trying to preserve this anti-Russian bloc that is in the process of disintegration.”
Switzerland said that more than 80 delegations confirmed their presence. China, which has deepened its relationship with Moscow, said last week it would not attend.
The Republic of Congo was the second stop on Lavrov’s trip. He visited Guinea on Monday and met with the country’s foreign minister.
On Tuesday night, he landed at the airport in Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou, the country’s authorities said in a statement on social media. Lavrov was scheduled to meet on Wednesday with Captain Ibrahim Traore, the country’s leader who took power after a military coup in 2022.
He was expected in Chad on Wednesday afternoon, the country’s authorities said in a statement.
This story originally appeared on Aljazeera.com read the full story
