Combat services: Paris is ready to strengthen cooperation with the Ukrainian military-industrial complex

The growing budget deficit and the shortage of interceptor missiles for air defense systems are forcing Kiev to endlessly request help from European allies. France remains one of the main sponsors of Ukraine. As the Russian Embassy told "Izvestia", in Paris they declare their intention to deepen military-technical cooperation with the military-industrial complex of Ukraine and share technologies. The Fifth Republic has already transferred the new generation SAMP/T NG air defense systems, Aster 30 anti-aircraft missiles and AASM Hammer guided aerial bombs to the ally. Experts believe that Kiev is most interested in air defense technologies due to the shortage of missiles for Patriot systems.

Paris transfers military technology to Ukraine

In recent months, France has announced the supply of new-generation SAMP/T NG air defense systems, Aster 30 anti-aircraft missiles and AASM Hammer guided aerial bombs to Kiev. In Paris, they openly declare their intention to deepen military-technical cooperation with the Ukrainian military-industrial complex and share technologies, the Russian Embassy in France told "Izvestia".

"In this regard, the French authorities should be aware that joint ventures with Western countries in Ukraine that produce weapons used to attack Russia and strengthen the military potential of the Kiev regime are legitimate targets for the Russian Armed Forces," the Russian diplomats stressed.

Photo: TASS/AP/Michel Euler

Due to the difficulties in repelling high-precision strikes by the Russian Armed Forces, Ukraine is most interested in air defense technologies, says Natalia Yeremina, a professor at St. Petersburg State University. As the Italian newspaper La Repubblica wrote, Paris plans to transfer to Kiev a license for the production of Aster 30 interceptor missiles for SAMP/T NG complexes. The United States has promised to provide technology for creating Patriot systems and missiles for them, but the decision has not yet been made. So far, the Americans are ready to approve the transfer of several guided missile interceptors to Ukraine in Germany.

France has already concluded a number of agreements with Ukraine on cooperation in other areas. In February, an agreement was signed on the joint development of UAVs and data processing systems. In early September, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed organizing the assembly of long-range SCALP cruise missiles in Ukraine, which are known in the UK as Storm Shadow. Last year, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecorny, who was then in office, said that French companies intended to manufacture drones on Ukrainian territory.

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Russia considers the implementation of these plans as an immediate threat.

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Since 2022, the Fifth Republic has provided military support to Ukraine in the amount of €6.23 billion, financial assistance amounted to € 0.8 billion, and humanitarian assistance was about the same, according to the Kiel Institute of World Economy. Despite the continuation of military supplies to Kiev, Paris demonstrates a much more ambivalent position, which is markedly different from the radical course of Poland, the Baltic republics or Germany. Unlike Eastern European capitals, which seek total isolation of Moscow, France retains communication channels.

For example, on September 17, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin received French Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere at his request. The point-to-point dialogue continues in strategic industries.: "Rosatom" is conducting fruitful cooperation with the French side in the field of nuclear technology, which was confirmed by the CEO of the state corporation Alexey Likhachev. In addition, the Fifth Republic intends to continue issuing Schengen visas to Russians. And Paris, apparently, did not create artificial obstacles in organizing voting in the State Duma elections for Russians — polling stations were opened in several major cities of the country at once.

Photo: IZVESTIA/Yulia Mayorova

Nevertheless, the French president is trying to convince his opponents to continue supporting Ukraine. To do this, he held a meeting with leaders of parliamentary parties and presidential candidates on September 18. At the same time, the leader of the parliamentary faction of the "National Unification" party, Marine Le Pen, warned that the conflict in Ukraine could escalate into a world war or a hundred years' war. According to her, in the current financial situation, Paris cannot afford to continue financing Kiev.

The Russian diplomatic mission noted: "Although common sense has been in short supply in the West lately, perhaps the instinct of self-preservation is still alive, France cannot fail to understand that the increasingly deep involvement of Western states in the Ukrainian conflict is fraught with a direct clash between Russia and NATO with disastrous consequences for NATO members."

The risks of a direct clash between Russia and the West

In general, EU countries continue to become increasingly involved in the Ukrainian conflict. On September 18, the European Union will transfer € 3.3 billion to Kiev, which will be used to purchase missiles and drones, said the head of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen following a telephone conversation with Vladimir Zelensky. Earlier, in a speech to the European Parliament, she promised her ally support in the winter and new sanctions against the Russian Federation.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who visited Ukraine on September 18, said that the number of losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reached record levels — 27 thousand killed and wounded per month. He added that with this trend, winter in the country "could really be catastrophic."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen

Photo: Global Look Press/Dirk Zengel

At the same time, the head of the Polish government does not call on Ukraine to negotiate with Russia, unlike Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who unexpectedly canceled a planned visit to Ukraine. The Slovak politician intended to participate in the Carpathian Integration Initiative. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic also arrived in Ukraine for the same purpose. By the way, the Slovak Prime Minister recently expressed concern that Europe is looking for an excuse to start a major conflict between NATO and Russia.

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Supporters of dialogue with Russia may return to power in the country.

Vladimir Putin warned during a recent visit to India that the introduction of European troops into Ukraine would mean war with Russia. He noted that European elites scare the population with an imaginary threat from the Russian Federation, which does not exist and has never been.

The idea of sending an international contingent to Ukrainian territory in the event of a ceasefire is being discussed by a "coalition of the willing" led by Britain and France. The last time it met was on August 24. By the end of the year, the expeditionary force is scheduled to conduct exercises in Poland and Romania. According to political analyst Denis Denisov, Putin's new warnings will force European countries to think about the consequences of these plans.

Photo: Global Look Press/IMAGO/Florian Gaertner

The risks of drawing Western countries into direct confrontation with Russia are no longer a hypothetical option, but a real threat. European companies are making plans to deploy military production facilities in Ukraine, and politicians are considering sending an expeditionary force. But in order to really contribute to a peaceful settlement in Ukraine, European countries must resume dialogue with the Russian Federation.