ISTANBUL
The French foreign minister said there are no “red lines” in France’s support for Ukraine.
Ukraine could use French long-range missiles to strike Russia “in the logics of self-defense,” Jean-Noel Barrot said in an exclusive interview for Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, a BBC Sunday morning talk show, excerpts of which have been shared on the broadcaster’s website.
But he did not confirm whether French weapons had already been used in the war that continues since February 2022.
“The principle has been set … our messages to President Zelenskyy have been well received,” Barrot added.
He emphasized that Western allies should not impose limits on their support for Ukraine and should avoid setting and expressing “red lines.”
Asked if this could include the potential deployment of French troops, Barrot said: “We do not discard any option.”
“We will support Ukraine as strongly and as long as necessary. Why? Because our own security is at stake.”
“Each time the Russian army advances by one square kilometer, the threat moves one square kilometer closer to Europe,” he added.
In February, French President Emmanuel Macron had also refused to rule out sending ground troops to Ukraine, arguing that “we will do everything that we can to make sure that Russia does not prevail.”
Earlier this week, Barrot said France could “consider” allowing Ukraine to hit Russian targets with missiles after outgoing US President Joe Biden authorized Kyiv to do so.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Moscow could attack military facilities of those countries which allow their weapons to be used to hit targets inside Russia.
