PM Borne: France to continue maintaining sanctions against Russia, supporting Ukraine

French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne says that France will continue maintaining sanctions against Russia which unleashed military aggression against Ukraine and announced the annexation of part of Ukrainian territories.

As an Ukrinform correspondent reports, Borne made a corresponding statement at the National Assembly, the lower house of the French Parliament, speaking about the war in Ukraine and its consequences for France.

Borne emphasized that the sanctions would last as long as Russia continued the war. "Abandoning sanctions means abandoning Ukraine," she said, stressing that the main goal of sanctions remains to make the cost of war unbearable for Russia.

Among them, the head of government named the banking, commercial, information and political sanctions imposed by the European Union and emphasized that the Russian economy had already shrunk significantly.

Paying tribute to the courage of the Ukrainian people, Borne noted that the Ukrainians had been resisting Russian aggression for seven months already, but never gave up and never bowed their heads. "Their courage is exemplary," she emphasized.

The PM underscored that France did not recognize the results of sham referenda organized by Moscow and the attempted annexation of the occupied Ukrainian territories, noting that Russia "is burying itself in cynicism, threats and blackmail."

She also mentioned the shocking crimes in Bucha and mass graves in Izyum, stressing: "We are determined that the crimes committed by Russia will be documented, prosecuted, and punished."

The head of the government expressed extreme concern over the Russian military occupation of the Zaporizhzhia NPP and emphasized the importance of the IAEA mission.

Regarding the energy crisis as a result of the war in Ukraine, Borne noted: "This war shows us the need to quickly ensure energy sovereignty and get rid of our dependence."

In addition, the head of government said that France would support Ukraine in its reconstruction. "Today, the country's reconstruction needs are estimated at almost 350 billion euros. This is a colossal collective challenge, and France will make its contribution," France’s PM said.

"I announce that we will organize an economic conference with the Ukrainian authorities in Paris in the coming months to mobilize French companies," she added.

The head of government pledged France's steadfast support for Ukraine, recalling that since the beginning of the war, France, together with its allies and other European countries, has been increasing weapons and equipment supplies to Ukraine. "We must give Ukraine means for self-defense," she said.

Borne emphasized that "Russia considered NATO to be weak and divided but united it again." She also mentioned the words of French President Emmanuel Macron who said that this war was a shared responsibility as a member of the European family had been attacked.

"This war is not just a conflict between two countries. This war is a fight for our values. Putin himself admitted this last Friday: he is attacking our democratic model," the Prime Minister said. According to her, "this war is a solidarity lesson" for France and Europe.

"The war in Ukraine will continue, but we are ready. The resistance of the Ukrainian people obliges us. We will be there. We will cope with it," concluded the head of the French government.

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