Stephane Sejourne
France’s foreign minister stated on Monday that it was no longer in Paris’s interest to talk to Russia after conflicting stories emerged from a rare phone call over last month’s deadly attack on a Moscow concert hall.
Stephane Sejourne said, “It is not in our interest currently to hold discussions with Russian officials because the statements and the summaries issued about them are lies”.
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned Russia’s ‘bizarre and threatening’ tone following a talk between French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu and his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu.
France claimed Lecornu intended to provide Moscow with useful information regarding the March 22 attack, which killed more than 140 people near the Russian capital.
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the incident.
According to Lecornu’s ministry, France is prepared to increase exchanges to combat terrorism.
“However, Russia responded by warning the France secret services were not involved in the strike”, the Russian defence ministry’s statement reads.
“Before France resumes talks with Russia, perhaps we must first establish trust; more importantly, have the military situation in Ukraine develop to enable a renewal of relations. This is not currently the case”, Sejourne continued.
Macron infuriated Moscow in February when he suggested that Western troops could be deployed in Ukraine, which Russia invaded two years ago.
Sejourne concluded that the long tradition of cooperation with Russia on terrorism had come to an end.
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