Russia accuses France of initiating a “dialogue” on Ukraine without Kiev

Moscow affirmed this Thursday, December 26, that Paris had “made calls via confidential channels” to establish a “dialogue” on Ukraine, without involving Kiev. So far, France has not responded to these allegations.

sergueï lavrov, head of Russian diplomacy, stated during a press conference that French officials had attempted to engage in discussions on the Ukrainian situation directly with Moscow, excluding Ukraine. “Several times, our French colleagues proposed, through confidential channels, to help us establish a dialogue on the Ukrainian issue. Without Ukraine, by the way,” he declared.

lavrov emphasized that these approaches contradicted the principles proclaimed by Western countries, which consistently insist on the importance of not deciding Ukraine’s future without its involvement. “We did not refuse,” he added, asserting that Russia remains “ready to listen.”

The Russian diplomat did not specify when these contacts might have occurred or what topics were discussed.

An appeal for unity from Kiev amid uncertain negotiations

The prospect of peace talks to end the conflict in Ukraine, which began with Russia’s invasion in February 2022, is regularly brought up in international debates. The potential return of donald trump to the US presidency fuels this perspective, as the former president has promised to restore peace “within 24 hours.” However, the ambiguity of his intentions worries Kiev, which fears being forced into unfavorable compromises.

Last week, Ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky reiterated his call for unity among Western allies during a summit in Brussels. “Only together can the United States and Europe truly stop Putin,” he said.

Criticism of France’s position

sergueï lavrov also criticized what he called France’s “ambiguous behavior” regarding the Ukrainian conflict. According to him, discussions in Europe, including in France, about the potential deployment of troops to oversee a ceasefire would undermine any peace initiative. “Such statements do not encourage taking French proposals seriously,” he concluded.

As the idea of peace negotiations gains traction, these exchanges highlight the ongoing tensions between Moscow and Western capitals regarding the management of the Ukrainian conflict.