France Approves Ukraine's Use of Long-Range Missiles Against Russian Targets

French officials cite 'self-defense' as justification while training thousands of Ukrainian soldiers to strengthen battlefield capabilities.

France has joined the U.S. and U.K. in signaling approval for Ukraine to use Western-supplied long-range missiles on Russian territory, framing it as a matter of self-defense under international law.
French SCALP missiles, similar to the U.K.'s Storm Shadow, are part of the military aid provided to Ukraine, with their use aimed at neutralizing Russian military targets involved in attacks on Ukraine.
Over 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers are undergoing advanced training in France, including the use of French Caesar howitzers and Milan anti-tank systems, to form a new brigade for frontline deployment.
Ukraine continues to face intense Russian offensives, particularly in the eastern Donetsk region, while struggling to mobilize additional troops to counter its losses along the frontlines.
Russian officials have condemned France's position, with President Vladimir Putin warning that the use of Western missiles against Russia could escalate the conflict's global dimensions.