France and Ukraine Warn Against North Korean Troop Involvement in Conflict

KYIV, Oct 19 (Reuters) – In a significant development amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha warned on Saturday against a potential escalation if North Korean troops were to support Russia‘s military actions. The foreign ministers issued their statements during a joint press conference held in Kyiv.

Barrot, who recently assumed his role as France’s Foreign Minister in September and is visiting Ukraine for the first time, emphasized the ramifications of such a move. “It would be serious and push the conflict into a new stage, an additional escalatory stage,” he stated, indicating that the potential involvement of North Korean forces could be a signal of Moscow struggling in its war efforts. Meanwhile, Sybiha highlighted the “huge” risk of further expansion of the conflict.

The remarks coincided with accusations by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who alleged that North Korea had already dispatched officers to Russia and was preparing to deploy up to 10,000 soldiers in support of Moscow. However, NATO chief Mark Rutte noted that there was no evidence to substantiate the claims at this stage.

Amid these developments, Barrot announced France’s commitment to aid Ukraine by financing two new centers aimed at protecting children affected by the war, located in the eastern part of the country. His visit underscores France’s ongoing support for Ukraine amid the crisis.

Zelenskiy also introduced a ‘victory plan’ earlier in the week, which aims to end the war by no later than the next year, with the first step being Ukraine’s unconditional membership in NATO. On his part, Barrot affirmed that France was open to Ukraine joining NATO, recognizing it as a topic of discussion among allies. “Regarding the invitation for Ukraine to join NATO, we are open to it, and it’s a discussion that we are having with our partners,” he said.