"This is a military failure": French Foreign Ministry says 150,000 Russian troops killed in Ukraine
Paris wants to use the income from interest rates on frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine's defence
The Russian army has lost 150,000 soldiers in the war against Ukraine, French Foreign Minister Stéphane Sejourne said in an interview with Novaya Gazeta. Europe".
"This is a military failure of Russia. According to our estimates, Russia's military losses amount to 500,000 people, including 150,000 killed," he said.
He also did not rule out the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine, as previously suggested by French President Emmanuel Macron.
"Russia must understand that when peace in Europe is under threat and the safety of our fellow citizens is at stake, there are no limits and no option is ruled out," Séjourne said.
He added that Paris wants to use the income from interest rates on frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine's defence.
"France really wants to go even further: with interest rates rising, these assets generated about €4 billion in revenue in 2023. We propose to use them to finance Ukraine's defence and reconstruction efforts," the French minister said.
According to the British Ministry of Defence, as of the end of April 2024, the Russian army in Ukraine had lost 450,000 people killed and wounded. This figure does not include losses among fighters of private military companies such as Wagner, which recruited and sent tens of thousands of prisoners of Russian colonies into "meat assaults".
Last August, US intelligence estimated Russian losses at 360,000 people, including 120,000 killed.
Background. In an interview with The Economist, French President Emmanuel Macron said that if the Russians broke through the defences and Ukraine asked for help, his country would consider sending in ground troops.
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