Ten days after the resumption of a rare dialogue between the defense ministers of the two countries, the content of the telephone conversation between Benjamin Lecornu and Serguei Choigou sparks controversy between the two capitals. On Monday, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs estimated that Paris no longer had any interest in discussing with Russia. Comments deemed “unspeakable” by Moscow this Friday, which summoned the French ambassador.
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On RFI and France 24 last Monday, Stéphane Séjourné had questioned the summary made by Moscow of the exchange between Sébastien Lecornu and Sergueï Choigou, on April 3. A report deemed false by the head of French diplomacy.
For Paris, at the initiative of the call, it was a question of transmitting information in the field of the fight against terrorism in the aftermath of the attack which bloodied Moscow. But for the Russian authorities, it was a question of resolving the conflict in Ukraine.
There was talk of Ukraine, the French Ministry of the Armed Forces had pointed out. France denies the Kremlin’s accusations that kyiv is responsible for the attack.
Read alsoFrance-Russia: a phone call, two versions, manipulations and reactions
A ” instrumentalization » according to Paris, which also denounces Russia’s veiled threats. The Minister of Defense suggested Western involvement in the attack on Moscow, including that of France. Of the ” baroque and threatening comments »reacted Emmanuel Macron this Thursday.
They come against a backdrop of increasing disinformation attacks from Russia. But in a press release from the Russian Foreign Ministry this Friday, it is the attitude of Paris which deliberately hinders any dialogue between the two countries.
Read alsoFrance and Russia resume dialogue while highlighting their differences