France and Russia's Defense Ministers Discuss Ukraine, Terrorism in Rare Call

The first conversation since 2022 aimed at increasing communication on terrorism and reaffirmed France's support for Ukraine.

France's Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu and Russia's Sergei Shoigu held their first phone conversation since 2022, discussing the war in Ukraine and counter-terrorism efforts.
The call, initiated by France, aimed to increase communication on fighting terrorism, especially in light of the recent Moscow attack and upcoming Paris Olympics.
Russia claims the two discussed potential Ukraine talks, a claim France immediately denied, emphasizing continued support for Ukraine.
Russia warns France against sending troops to Ukraine, suggesting it would create problems for France.
The rare high-level contact comes amid differing accounts of the conversation's content, with both sides focusing on the war in Ukraine and the fight against terrorism.