On Thursday, the French Foreign Ministry confirmed that Paris has more means of pressure and sanctions if it does not cooperate Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Foreign Ministry spokesperson also told Al-Arabiya/Al-Hadath that his country will ask the China Exerting its influence on Russia for a cease-fire, pointing out that Beijing’s hesitation regarding the Ukraine war does not serve its interests.
It is noteworthy that Beijing has repeatedly refused to condemn the Russian military operation, blaming NATO for the exacerbation of the conflict, following expanding its presence towards the east of Europe.
A Ukrainian soldier in eastern Kyiv (Archyde.com Archive)
In addition, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced Thursday that Russian forces in Ukraine do not show “any concrete indication” that they are retreating or withdrawing, despite recent statements by the Kremlin.
Le Drian told the French newspaper Le Figaro, “I do not see any tangible indication on the ground that at this stage indicates a real and lasting turn by the Russians,” adding, “Although the progress of their forces is slower than the Kremlin had hoped, I have not noticed today any major retreat, or even a real ceasefire. fire”.
No significant progress!
On Tuesday, Moscow announced that it had “drastically reduced” its military activity towards Kyiv and Chernihiv (north) following Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul. was Kremlin He also announced a partial withdrawal of his forces in Ukraine to focus his attack on the Donbass region in the east of the country. But this announcement by Russia was met with Western skepticism.
Le Drian said that “the Istanbul talks did not result in any breakthrough in the three-week-old talks. The same issues were discussed in depth, and there was no substantive progress,” stressing the need for “there should first be a ceasefire and a schedule for the withdrawal of Russian forces.”
He asked, “Is it regarding allowing the Russian forces to regroup or is it regarding a real will to negotiate? As long as we don’t see tangible evidence of a real comprehensive ceasefire and a major military withdrawal on the ground, I will be inclined to the first hypothesis.”
Pro-Russian forces in separatist Donetsk, eastern Ukraine – Archyde.com
It is noteworthy that since the launch of that Russian operation on February 24, Russian forces have not been able to fully control any major Ukrainian city, except for the progress made in the northeast.
While several Western countries have confirmed that Moscow has incurred heavy losses during the past weeks, whether at the material or human level.
She also alluded to differences between the Kremlin and some military leaders, speaking of arrests and dismissals as well.
