France’s foreign minister vowed in Kyiv on Saturday that Ukraine would remain a “priority for France,” which would provide unwavering support “despite the increase in crises,” hours after a new wave of Russian criticism. strikes Ukraine, reports AFP.

“In Ukraine, the fundamental principles of international law and European values ​​are under threat, as well as the security interests of the French,” Stephan Sejourne said at a joint press conference with his Ukrainian colleague Dmytro Kuleba.

“Russia hopes that Ukraine and its supporters will tire of it. We will not bend, our determination is unbreakable,” insisted the new French foreign minister, clarifying that the choice of Kyiv for his first official visit is in itself a “message for Ukrainians.”

His visit confirms France’s continued commitment at a time when the war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas threatens the stability of the entire Middle East, and mobilizes the diplomatic efforts of Western offices, says France Presse.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, France has supported Kyiv both militarily and diplomatically, but has sometimes been accused of not doing enough.

The Ukrainian Air Force accused Russia on Saturday morning of shelling Ukraine with dozens of missiles and drones overnight. Eight of the 40 missiles were destroyed, and another 20 “missed the target” because they were deflected by “electronic countermeasures,” it said.

For its part, the Russian military announced strikes on weapons factories, saying it had hit “all” of its targets, including Ukrainian “military-industrial complex” companies that produce shells, drones and gunpowder.

“Russia continues to deliberately target and strike civilian infrastructure in violation of international law” and “commits war crimes,” condemned Stephane Sejournay.

“A new stage of defense cooperation”

“In the past, we supplied artillery and air defense to the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” he emphasized. “We are entering a new stage of defense cooperation” with the specific goal of “strengthening Ukraine’s ability to produce the weapons it needs on its territory,” Sejourne added.

France’s foreign minister, who was appointed late Thursday and briefly replaced her predecessor Catherine Colonna during the trip, also confirmed Paris’ support for Kyiv’s bid to join the EU.

“Ukraine’s future is in the European Union,” he said, pledging that France would “do everything possible” to support Ukraine’s €50 billion European aid package, which is now blocked by Hungary, which has vetoed it.

For his part, Dmytro Kuleba confirmed that there are currently talks about “creating the most favorable conditions for the interaction of our defense enterprises”, starting with legal aspects.

He added that this cooperation will be initiated at the bilateral level, and then between Ukraine and the EU.

“The possibilities of this cooperation are much greater,” he emphasized, foreseeing, in particular, the “joint production” of military potential on the territory of Ukraine.

The visit of the head of French diplomacy is a continuation of the British Prime Minister’s visit to Kyiv on Friday. Rishi Sunak announced the signing of a ten-year security agreement between his country and Ukraine, which President Volodymyr Zelensky called “unprecedented”. After Ukraine, the head of French diplomacy is expected in Germany and Poland.