The French Ministry of Defense on Tuesday qualified as disinformation and an irresponsible provocation the statement of the head of Russia’s foreign intelligence, Sergei Naryshkin, a close associate of Putin, who suggested that Paris is preparing to send 2,000 troops to Ukraine, Reuters reports.

“The maneuver organized by Sergei Naryshkin, director of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, once again demonstrates Russia’s systematic use of disinformation,” the Paris-based Defense Ministry said in a statement, according to News.ro. “We consider such a provocation irresponsible,” the statement reads.

Russian news agency TASS quoted Naryshkin as saying that France was preparing to send about 2,000 troops to Ukraine and that French troops would be a legitimate target for Russian troops if they “someday come to the territory of the Russian world with a sword.” “

Franco-Russian relations have further soured in recent weeks after Paris increased its support for Ukraine, including signing a long-term bilateral security agreement and pledging to send more long-range, long-range cruise missiles.

President Emmanuel Macron also took a tougher line on Russia, insisting that Moscow must be defeated.

He did not rule out that European troops will have to go to Ukraine someday, although he clarified that France has no intention of fomenting enmity against Russia.

Paris also accused Russia of spreading false information. In January, he categorically rejected the idea that Paris has mercenaries in Ukraine, a day after Russian lawmakers passed a resolution condemning French mercenaries in that country.

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