Kremlin calls 'dangerous' Macron's remarks on potential deployment of French troops in Ukraine

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday expressed concern over French President Emmanuel Macron's remarks about the potential deployment of French troops to Ukraine.

Speaking at a press briefing in Moscow, Peskov highlighted Macron's persistent discussions about France's potential direct involvement in the Ukraine conflict.

"This is a very dangerous trend. We are watching this closely. We continue and will continue our special military operation until all our goals are achieved," he stressed.

In an interview on Thursday, Macron outlined two conditions for deploying troops to Ukraine -- a request from Kyiv and a Russian breakthrough of the front line. However, he noted the absence of such a request from Ukraine at present.

Peskov also criticized UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron's statement about Kyiv's "right" to use British weapons for strikes against Russia as "direct escalation."

"This is a direct escalation of tension around the Ukrainian conflict, which could potentially pose a danger to European security, the entire architecture of European security," he cautioned.

Describing Cameron's remarks as "another concerning development," Peskov noted a troubling tendency toward escalating tensions with Russia in official statements of the Western politicians.

About media reports alleging Russia's involvement in jamming GPS systems over the Baltic Sea, Peskov stressed a lack of information on the matter.

In response to Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin's statement suggesting the presence of both Russian and US military forces at the same base in Niger, Peskov reiterated Russia's commitment to developing relations with African nations across various sectors.