Faced with Russian violence, Emmanuel Macron is stepping up France's aid to Ukraine.
The Elysée Palace has decided to deliver more military defense equipment to Ukraine in its fight against the invasion of the Russian army, the Elysée Palace said this Saturday evening after an exceptional Defense Council , without giving further details.
But to announce at the same time the reinforcement of economic and financial sanctions in - coordination with the Europeans and the Americans - and the freezing of the financial assets of Russian personalities.
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In addition, more than 9,500 French soldiers will be directly mobilized or on alert as part of the Russian invasion of Ukraine at the end of next week, according to the French general staff.
"We will have more than 1,500 French soldiers directly involved in missions to strengthen NATO's posture on the eastern flank," the general staff told AFP.
500 soldiers deployed in Romania
Some 500 soldiers will be deployed in Romania, in addition to the 300 already active in Estonia, where a hundred others will accompany the upcoming arrival of 4 Mirage 2000-5 fighter planes intended to "reinforce the air defense of the Baltic countries", detailed this military source.
Some 600 soldiers are also mobilized in France for flights over Poland, she added.
"Since February 24, France has participated in the defense of the Polish skies with two missions a day", it was specified to the staff.
Around 8,000 French soldiers are also "on alert as part of NATO's rapid reaction force" of which France will assume command in 2022, from the same source.
After the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014, NATO deployed multinational battle groups in the three Baltic States and Poland, for a permanent mission of "Enhanced Forward Presence" (EFP), assumed by several member countries.
While France will be the "lead country" of the deployment in Romania, the Chief of Staff of the French Armed Forces, General Thierry Burkhard insisted Friday evening on "the message of strategic solidarity from all the members of the NATO", but also on "a real signal of firmness and without ambiguity vis-à-vis Russia".