France Doesn't Find It Beneficial to Hold Discussions with Russian Representatives, Says Foreign Minister

It is not expedient for France to engage in negotiations with Russian representatives at this time, as the communiqués released by the Russian side contain unreliable information. This statement was made by French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné during an interview on the France 24 television channel.

The Foreign Minister recalled that France and Russia have a long history of cooperation in the fight against terrorism. At the same time, he stated that "it is not in France's interests today to hold discussions with Russian representatives, as the communiqués regarding the results of the negotiations are false." Séjourné emphasized that before any discussions, "it is necessary to restore trust."

On April 3, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu had their first phone conversation since October 2022. The ministers discussed the terrorist attack that took place near Moscow and the negotiations regarding Ukraine. Shoigu informed his counterpart that Moscow hopes that French special services are not behind the terrorism.

Commenting on statements from the Élysée Palace regarding the possibility of sending a French task force to Ukraine, Shoigu noted that "if implemented practically, it would create problems for France itself."