The fate of Ukraine is at the center of negotiations and negotiations, Wednesday, January 26, while Russia multiplies military maneuvers on the border of Ukraine, leaving the threat of an invasion. 

The United States rejected on Wednesday, in its written response to Russia, one of Moscow's main demands, refusing to close NATO's door to Ukraine, but claim to have proposed a "diplomatic way" to avoid a new war.

While in Paris, the political advisers of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany met in "Normandy format", a first for more than six months.

Anne-Claire Legendre, spokesperson for the Quay d'Orsay, was the guest of France 24. She answered questions from Raphaël Kahane.

  • Ukrainian crisis 

The cohesion between Paris and all of its "partners and allies" within the European Union, as well as the G7 and the OSCE is a guarantee of "credibility" in the face of the Russian threat, insists the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A Russian territorial aggression in Ukraine will lead to "massive consequences", as well as an "extremely high cost", she recalled. On the subject of sanctions, keeping "a form of ambiguity" about their nature against Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin is part of a "dissuasive strategy".

The French posture is "extremely firm", "perhaps even more so" than in 2014 when Moscow annexed Crimea.

Paris thus supports its "allies on the eastern flank" and has dispatched 300 soldiers to Estonia and Leclerc tanks to support NATO's "deterrent posture".

Support of this type is also envisaged in Romania.

The refusal (by Washington and NATO) to exclude Kiev from joining NATO is a matter of the "fundamentals" of European security, is part of the Helsinki framework endorsed by the Paris Charter, which provides for the possibility for States to join alliances in their own right.

"This principle was accepted at the time by the USSR: it remains intangible", emphasizes Anne-Claire Legendre. 

France remains "open" to discussions with Russia, possible in a number of formats.

The "Normandy format" discussions enabled Russian and Ukrainian representatives to re-engage in discussion.

Other chapters discussed within the framework of NATO, OSCE.

"All chat channels" should be used to prevent escalation.

  • Coup in Burkina Faso

Anne-Claire Legendre also spoke about the recent coup in Burkina Faso, calling, in addition to the release of ousted President Roch Christian Kaboré, for a "return to constitutional order".

As in Mali, France "supports the efforts" of ECOWAS, and will continue its "commitment against terrorism" in the Sahel region, with its European partners.

The spokeswoman for the Quai d'Orsay deplored the death of Alexandre Martin on Saturday January 22 (53rd death since the start of France's commitment to the Sahel in 2013), adding that France "pays the price of blood" to support Malians against the terrorist threat.  

The intrusion of the Wagner militia in this country is "a power of destabilization in Africa" ​​which obliges Paris to now "reassess the situation."

  • Frenchman sentenced in Iran 

Anne-Claire Legendre regretted the sentencing of Frenchman Benjamin Brière in Iran to eight years and eight months in prison for "espionage" and "propaganda", calling it "unfounded" and "unacceptable", ensuring that the Quai d'Orsay is currently working "to find a positive outcome" to this situation.

The Quai d'Orsay spokeswoman finally regretted the "slowness" of Tehran in the context of negotiations on the Iranian nuclear.

These talks have reached a "vital moment of urgency": we must "move forward", before the agreement loses "all content and foundation".

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