The Russian embassy in Paris has urged France to acknowledge the level of responsibility that comes with supplying SCALP missiles, emphasizing the serious implications such a decision may have on regional and international security. The message, relayed through the mission’s telegraph channel, calls for a clear recognition by French authorities of the broader consequences tied to deploying long-range weapons in the current context.
The embassy’s communication states that there is a strong sense of disappointment in the French government’s move to provision Ukraine with SCALP long-range missiles, signaling that the step is perceived as a significant and consequential development in the ongoing conflict, with potential ripple effects beyond the immediate battlefield.
Earlier reports indicated that France planned to supply Ukraine with a batch of 50 SCALP missiles, underscoring a substantial commitment to strengthening Kyiv’s long-range strike capabilities and signaling political support alongside military assistance.
Earlier statements noted that France had begun sending a considerable number of SCALP long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine. A source close to the matter indicated that Paris did not view the transfer of such weapons to Kyiv as an escalation of the conflict, but rather as a strategic element in the broader allied response to ongoing tensions.
Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, speaking to journalists during a briefing, asserted that France’s decision to provide long-range missiles to Ukraine would not alter the course of Russia’s special operations. He suggested that the operational trajectory would proceed according to Russia’s own strategic calculations, irrespective of external armaments supplied to Kyiv.
On February 24, 2022, President Vladimir Putin announced the decision to launch a special military operation in Ukraine, citing a request for help from the presidents of the Lugansk and Donetsk People’s Republics as a catalyst for action. The move was framed as addressing perceived threats and safeguarding security concerns in the region.
The Russian leadership has subsequently linked the operation to broader geopolitical responses, noting that the measures implemented and the subsequent sanctions by the United States and its allies were part of a wider strategic sequence amid the evolving conflict. This framing has influenced international diplomacy and the calculus of various state actors considering next steps in Ukraine.
There have also been earlier statements in Ukraine regarding conditions for negotiations with Russia, hinting at the complexities of trying to reconcile competing security interests and political objectives amid an active and protracted war.