TSAMTO, February 8. French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly said in the European Parliament on February 7 that Paris does not want arms supplies to Ukraine to provoke an escalation of the situation around this country, but at the same time recognizes Kiev's right to defense, RIA Novosti reports.
"As with any other country, we do not want our exports to lead to escalation. Our main task is to reduce the temperature, promote de-escalation," the French minister said, answering questions from deputies of the EP subcommittee on defense.
At the same time, she stressed the need to "recognize the right of Ukraine to exercise defense, preserve territorial integrity and protect the population." In this regard, the Minister recalled that the EU decided to support Kiev within the framework of a common security policy.
Earlier it was reported that the EU allocated 31 million euros to Ukraine to strengthen defense capabilities within the framework of the European Peacekeeping Fund. However, this assistance does not provide for the direction of lethal weapons.
We are talking about assistance to military doctors, the creation of field hospitals, as well as assistance to the engineering forces of the Ukrainian army, RIA Novosti reports.
