My trip to France at invitation of Ministry of Army

Author: Yurii Butusov

I appeal to all friends of Ukraine in France to take part in the early elections and vote for those political forces that support military assistance to Ukraine.

My outing to France following an invitation from the Ministry of Armed Forces

I’m asking all allies of Ukraine in France to take part in the anticipatory election and vote for the political forces supporting military aid for Ukraine.

I’d like to share what I saw with you, i.e. the changes happening in France concerning the war and the level of support for Ukraine. I am also sincerely grateful to the French Armed Forces for their initiative and invitation.

What did the program consist of?

1. Talks with officials of the main headquarters, ministries of the army and foreign affairs.
2. Talks with the experts that form the strategic vision of the French government on military matters.
3. Speaking to army officials in charge of promising developments of the French army, the training of Ukrainian soldiers and psychological operations.
4. Talks with the leaders of ARQUUS, a company that supplies Ukraine and tens of other countries with armored vehicles.

What do I think is the objective of this trip for the French?

1. France has chosen a path of lengthy opposition to the Russian Federation and is attempting to showcase political leadership to support the nations of Eastern Europe.
2. France is guided by institutions that form their circle of experts in Ukraine, their daily agenda consisting of opposing Russia.
3. The French are in need of an experiential exchange with Ukraine.

What are the obvious changes for the better?

1. I was also in Paris in 2020, on an invitation from the Armed Forces of France, where I met with French diplomats and experts. The point of that visit was to show a group of Ukrainian journalists that France is doing all it can to prevent a war with Russia, and we were told Russia holds considerable influence in Europe and that there were no prospects apart from a peaceful treaty and a war was impossible.The political climate has completely shifted as of 2024. Russia is unanimously considered an enemy of Europe and France by all government institutions and the issue of increased support for Ukraine is being propagated by all expert circles.
   2. The President of France is officially considering transferring French forces to Ukraine, which, considering the country’s nuclear status, is immensely important for the consolidation of pro-Ukrainian powers in the EU.
   3. The president and government are trying to make the issue of support for Ukraine more popular in society to ensure an increase in its financing in the budget.
   4. France supports the integration of Ukraine into NATO and the EU.

What negatives are there?

1. France has very limited resources for the armed defense of its foreign policy. The scale of military support for Ukraine in two years that was published by the MInistry of Defense is simply miserable. For example, the French only managed to send one anti-aircraft SAMP-T missile system, along with only 30 thousand 155mm artillery shells.
   2. France currently has no political consensus on significant financial support that could help with the limited supplying of arms to Ukraine. The total volume of supplies of military equipment ranges up to 2 billion euros. Measly figures for such a powerful state.
   3. Russia conducts systematic informational operations and finances some French parties and public organizations through its agencies to destabilize the country, worrying the French authorities.

Is France preparing for a war with Russia?

1. France is preparing for a confrontation with the Russian Federation on the political and informational levels. The main task is to create a united anti-Russian front within the European Union in order to jointly strengthen the defense system and make joint decisions regarding the response to the threat.
   2. At the military level, preparations for war are, sadly, rather imitated. The French army has a sufficiently qualified staff, but it does not conduct real preparation for war. The army is not provided with drones, the French are not ready for modern ground warfare of drones and EW and their tactics are not adapted to new combat conditions.

The attitude towards Ukraine?

The authority of Ukrainians in the French military and expert circles is very high. Many officials are learning and some have even started to communicate in Ukrainian.

Are the French learning from the Ukrainian war experience?

There is no systematic study, the French management does not conduct analysis or reach conclusions. But a significant number of military personnel, primarily junior officers, sergeants, and soldiers, are closely watching the war.

What should be done in relations with France?

Ukraine needs to strengthen its relations with every country of the European Union, the conditions for strengthening ties are very favorable, because every responsible leader listens carefully once they find out you're from Ukraine.

France is built on many institutions and there is no single center of influence that can determine the general course of action, so the influence and interaction here must also be built in many directions. It is obvious to me that the influential lobbyists for relations with Ukraine are defense enterprises that can significantly influence political decisions.

In my opinion, Ukraine could also strengthen its informational presence in Europe. This can be done through demonstrating its successful operations in the war, new technologies that we are developing in the military sphere, the best Ukrainian military units that attract foreigners, particularly the French. It would be good to create a French unit in the defense forces to promote the recruitment of French people, among whom many volunteers could be found.

To conclude, I want to thank the Ministry of the French Army for its support of Ukraine. I hope that these first steps will become the basis for much closer and systematic cooperation between our countries, and the support of France will allow Ukraina to eventually join the EU and NATO.

I’d also like to, once again, encourage friends of Ukraine in France to vote for the parties that have pledged their support for Ukraine.

Yurii Butusov, Censor. NET