France will propose to European countries the creation of weapons stockpiles on their territory that could be immediately provided to Ukraine if needed, aiming to deter any future Russian aggression, French Minister of Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu announced today on Franceinfo.
“Security guarantees include many possible levels,” Lecornu explained, emphasizing the need for arms stockpiles in Europe dedicated to Ukraine. “This will serve as a real deterrent in case the war starts again.”
He confirmed that France will present this idea for discussion among European nations, stressing that maintaining stockpiles will help both Ukraine and Europe’s own defense readiness.
A Long-Term Defense Strategy for Europe and Ukraine
With Russia remaining a persistent threat, Lecornu’s ministry emphasized that such stockpiles would also help European nations sustain their own defense capabilities and keep defense production active even after the cessation of hostilities in Ukraine.
The debate over the possibility of sending European troops to Ukraine as peacekeepers was also addressed. While acknowledging the discussion, Lecornu clarified: “There is a framework for considering the presence of peacekeepers. That is, once the weapons fall silent, forces could be deployed to guarantee the ceasefire.”
However, he underscored that the strongest security guarantee for Ukraine is its own military:”What is being discussed now is ensuring that the Ukrainian army can continue to defend itself—not only in the present, but also after the guns have fallen silent.”
French-Ukrainian Cooperation on Strategic Raw Materials
Lecornu also revealed that France has been in talks with Ukraine since October regarding access to certain Ukrainian raw materials, primarily for military purposes. While the United States is engaged in its own discussions with Ukraine on this matter, Lecornu noted: “We are not participating in the discussions concerning the United States and Ukraine, but you should know that I and my counterpart, the Ukrainian Defense Minister, are discussing this issue for our own needs.”
Source: ANA-MPA, Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
