France is no longer “interested” in talking to “Russian officials” – Executive Summary

The head of French diplomacy, Stephane Ségourny, told France 24 media and Radio France Internationale, from Abidjan, where he said: “It is currently not in our interest to speak with Russian officials, because the press releases that are issued and the summaries provided are lies.” Complete a tour of Africa.

After a conversation last Wednesday between the French Minister of Defense, Sebastien Lecornu, and the Russian Minister, Sergei Shoigu, which aimed to transfer “useful information” to the Russians about the Moscow attack, French President Emmanuel Macron, on Thursday, denounced the “baroque and threatening comments.” By the Russians.

In a summary of the conversation initiated by Paris, Russia in particular said that it “hoped” that French intelligence services were not involved in the attack that killed 144 people on March 22 in a concert hall on the outskirts of the city. Moscow – an invention that was refuted by Paris.

Before the French can talk to the Russian rulers again, “it may be necessary to establish a relationship of trust – and perhaps above all it is important that there be a development on the military front in Ukraine, so that relations can be resumed,” Ségournet said. “This is not the case.” “The situation is yet to come.”

Macron justified the initiative of the conversation between the French and Russian defense ministers, the first since October 2022, by saying that France had “useful information” to transfer to the Russian authorities “about the origins and organization of the attack” claimed by France. The jihadist organization Islamic State (ISIS).

According to the French Ministry of Economy, the “long tradition with Russia of cooperation in matters of terrorism” is now at an impasse.

He concluded by saying: “In practice, the matter does not continue, because it was an offer, and the Russian statement, in Russian, actually suggests non-cooperation.”