French Foreign Minister announces visit to Ukraine

French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot will pay a visit to Ukraine on the weekend of October 19-20, he said in an interview with France Inter on Friday.

“I am going to Ukraine to convey the voice of France, to remind people that France does not back away from any crisis, to say that the security of our continent, including food and energy, is at stake in Ukraine,” Barrot said.

The minister also commented on Russia’s possible participation in the next peace summit, which, according to Barrot, should take place by the end of the year.

“We must first give Ukrainians the opportunity to negotiate whenever they want, from a position of strength. We must also prepare for peace. If conditions are created to invite Russia to the next peace summit, well, for my part, I will make every effort to ensure that Russia accepts another language – the language of international law, which we defend,” Barrot said.

He said Russia should adopt the “grammar of international law” and recognize Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

“Otherwise, it will undoubtedly be difficult for us to reach an agreement,” he said.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha coordinated with his French counterpart to organize his visit to Ukraine in a meeting on October 11.