“The war is total.
President Putin has chosen war, he has chosen a massive offensive, he has chosen to take Ukraine off the map of states, ”said Jean-Yves Le Drian this Friday morning on France Inter.
The French Foreign Minister believes that “the Donbass affair was only a pretext.
What Putin wanted was the submission of Ukraine and he will apparently continue his offensive until the end,” he explained.
.@JY_LeDrian: "The war is total. President Putin chose war, he chose to take Ukraine off the map of states (...). The Dombass affair was only a pretext, what Putin wanted was Ukraine's submission."
#le79Inter pic.twitter.com/8MLNDq5stg
– France Inter (@franceinter) February 25, 2022
According to him, Russia's will is to overthrow President Volodymyr Zelensky, elected in 2019. "President Zelensky's security is a central element of what is happening now," he stressed, adding: " We are in a position to be able to help him if necessary (…) We will take the necessary measures”, while refusing however to say whether this help could go through an exfiltration.
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Concerns over Moldova and Georgia
According to Jean-Yves Le Drian, Vladimir Putin is "a sower of war" and the Russian offensive underway in Ukraine could also extend to Moldova and Georgia.
“We are worried about the future,” he explained, noting that these former Soviet republics both include separatist territories totally turned towards Moscow.
That of Transdniestrie, in Moldova, has a military base near the Ukrainian city of Odessa.
“It's a new deal.
It is no longer the same as the Cold War because (during) the Cold War, there was no war,” he said.
“The novelty is that it is war in the heart of Europe”.
However, if Vladimir Putin uses words to scare, he knows the balance of power very well.
"When he says he has major weapons, he is simply answered 'we too'," added the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
.@JY_LeDrian: "Vladimir Putin uses words to scare people but he knows the balance of power very well. When he says he has major weapons, he is simply answered "we too".
#le79Inter pic.twitter.com/tu8wCENDpy
– France Inter (@franceinter) February 25, 2022
“We are doing everything to stop Vladimir Putin.
He will not be able to continue to be alone in this world, to be the permanent aggressor”, adds Jean Yves Le Drian, explaining that the “countries are totally aligned.
What has struck me the most since the beginning of this crisis is European unity and the speed with which Europeans agree to impose sanctions.
“And to add:” I am not sure that President Putin has taken the measure of the extent of the sanctions which have been decided (Thursday).
It is a question of asphyxiating the functioning of Russia.
The package of measures announced is spectacular, we have never experienced that”.
And if by chance, Russia decides to turn to China,
Finally, Jean Yves Le Drian wanted to reassure the French still present in Kiev.
“For the moment, we tell the French community to stay confined to their homes.
As soon as there is a possibility of leaving, we have organized a device to do so.
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