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Russia suffered 500,000 military casualties, including 150,000 dead, in its invasion of Ukraine starting in February 2022, according to French calculations released by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Stephane Séjourné.
The numbers appear in an interview with Stay published this Friday Novaya Gazeta Europethe independent Russian publication published since the beginning of the year in Paris with the support of Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
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“We calculate this Russia has suffered 500,000 military casualties, including 150,000 deaths. And for what? Two words are enough: no way”, says the French minister.
The interview was published in World Press Freedom DayIt is Stay highlights that “When journalists are threatened, democracy dies. The city of Russia He knows this more than anyone.”
The minister also warns that in the European elections next June with their disinformation campaigns “Russia “attempts to deny European citizens a precious right: the right to vote freely”.
“In France we don’t forget the Russian interference in the 2017 presidential campaign. This was already unacceptable“, to remember.
“But – he adds – we have observed a significant increase in this interference since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine”.
In this sense, it refers to the network of Internet sitesPortal combat‘ who spread disinformation identical to that to which investigations in Western countries have linked Russia.
Asked about the French president’s warnings, Emmanuel Macronabout the possibility of Western countries sending troops to Ukrainehis head of diplomacy insists on the need to leave space for ambiguity: “Why should we, Europeans, act transparently with unpredictable and irresponsible power?”
“Russia we must understand that when the peace of Europe is threatened and the security of its citizens at stake There are no limits and all options are on the table“, Explain.
Sejourné points out that, thanks to high interest rates, Russian assets frozen in the European Union They generated returns of 4,000 million euros in 2023.
“We want them to be used to finance the defense and reconstruction of Ukraine”, he guarantees.
France is one of the few countries in the European Union which offers asylum to Russian citizens who wish to avoid serving in the military ranks and Stay He claims that so far there have been 19 “who proved they could be mobilized to fight in Ukraine”.
Source: Elcomercio
I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.
