French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian, answers questions from Roselyne Febvre of France 24 and Christophe Boisbouvier of RFI, as part of an exclusive interview, from the Quai d'Orsay, in the French capital, Paris.
The day before, Tuesday 29, the Russian general staff had promised to "radically reduce" its military activities in the regions of kyiv and Tchernihiv.
Statements that raise relative diplomatic hopes, especially since a new meeting between Russians and Ukrainians in Turkey gave rise to substantial discussions between kyiv and Moscow on Wednesday.
"But I see there only statements, and no acts", immediately slices the head of French diplomacy, recalling that negotiations have been held for three weeks, without concrete progress on the ground.
Jean-Yves Le Drian warns of an "appalling" situation in the port city of Mariupol, in southern Ukraine, currently under Russian fire, and where "200,000 people are taken hostage".
"What is happening in Mariupol is appalling and what is going to happen there is Russia's responsibility," added the minister, for whom a ceasefire is the essential prerequisite for any credible diplomatic negotiation.
He backs up his point with an image: "You don't negotiate with a gun to your head".
Iran nuclear deal 'imminent'
The head of French diplomacy spoke about other national and international diplomatic issues, including the negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program taking place in Vienna.
He asserts that all the parties, including Iran, are "in agreement on the content, and that "the signing of an agreement is imminent".
"It would be a very good thing if we did not add a nuclear proliferation crisis to the war that is taking place in Ukraine", rejoices cautiously Jean-Yves Le Drian on France 24 and RFI.
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