France is providing military intelligence to Ukraine, the French Defence Minister announced on Thursday, as Washington has decided to halt intelligence sharing with Kyiv, crucial in the conflict against Russian forces.
"Our intelligence is sovereign and employs unique capabilities," said Sébastien Lecornu on France Inter radio, adding that rebuilding these capabilities has taken years.
"We are sharing this intelligence with the Ukrainians," he continued.
Lecornu did not specify how long France has been providing this support, but the announcement comes a day after Washington announced it would "pause" intelligence sharing with Kyiv and suspend American military aid.
"There is not a single DGSE agent or senior officer in France who does not see Russia as a threat," Lecornu emphasised, describing Russia as a country accustomed to ensuring "its political survival through external aggression," and whose economy now largely depends on war efforts.
On the topic of ongoing ceasefire discussions in Ukraine amid closer ties between Moscow and Washington, Lecornu stressed the urgency of initiating genuine talks between Russia and the United States.
He believes there have been many preliminary concessions and it is time to discuss the "real parameters of negotiation."
